CHIBA (Kyodo) Chiba Lotte Marines president Ryuzo Setoyama categorically denied Monday rumors that the club is planning to relocate from its current stadium, after some fans caused an uproar over the decision to release manager Bobby Valentine at the end of the 2009 season.
Setoyama admitted that a memo had surfaced termed "the minutes" from a front office meeting in which the president reportedly said, "If we have unworthy fans like this let's move (our home stadium)."
But Setoyma added, "To begin with there are no official minutes. This is no joke. This is a forgery." He said an investigation into the matter will be conducted by team headquarters.
On Sunday, Lotte acting owner Akio Shigemitsu denied knowledge of media reports about "minutes of a meeting" in which a team official mentions a relocation of the home stadium.
"We are fond of Chiba. We have invested a decent amount of money and this is even a time when we are planning to build an indoor practice facility near the stadium."