A £20m state-of-the-art sports complex, stadium and education centre could be built on a prime site close to Leigh town centre.

Part of the plan would see Leigh's two professional sports clubs - Leigh Centurions and Leigh RMI - sharing a 12,000-capacity all-seater stadium on land at Marshall Street which was originally earmarked for the doomed Xanadu Snowdome project.

The scheme would also mean other local sporting organisations such as Leigh East amateur RL club and Leigh Harriers being offered the chance to share in the facilities such as indoor sports, fitness and medical accomodation which are said to be among the best in the region.

If given approval, the complex could be up and running by 2005.

The Journal understands that existing land at Hilton Park and adjoining Council-owned land at Grasmere Street is attractive for retail development, and could raise as much as £18m which would be ploughed back into the Pennington development.

The exciting new proposal has the full backing of the Centurions, RMI, Grundy Hill Estates - who own Hilton Park - Leigh East and Wigan Council. The complex would be jointly owned by the Centurions, Grundy Hill Estates and the Council.

Land at Marshall Street is already owned by the Council and a key part of the scheme would be to develop specialist sports courses at the Wigan and Leigh College campus and to incorporate college facilities within the stadium complex.

Building costs would be met from the sale of Hilton Park, council land at Grasmere Street currently leased by Leigh East, possibly the sale of the Harriers HQ at Madeley Park, education grants and Sports Council and Lottery funding.

Leigh and District Sports Partnership is driving the project forward. They met last Friday to reveal details of the scheme for the first time.

Heading the scheme is Leigh MP Andy Burnham - himself a keen sports fan.

He said: "In the light of the Xanadu rejection one thing I have pushed for in Leigh is better sports facilities.

"A lot of work has been going on and all options have been looked at. The new proposal will see a spanking new stadium for the Centurions, RMI and the community with super facilities for the teams, college and the town as a whole."

Mr Burnham admits that there would be a lot of emotion if Hilton Park was to go. It's been Leigh RL's home since 1946 but if the Centurions are to secure a place in Super League, a modern stadium would be a major factor in any decison-making process.

"Leigh East are enthusiastic about the possibility of a move to Marshall Street and hopes are high that Leigh Harriers would also make the move," adds Mr Burnham.

"One of the things we will be doing first is to seek the views of residents affected by the project. But the way we see it is that this plan is better than, say, a retail park and would be in the best interests of the town as a whole.

"We need the comments and reaction of all the people in the town. It is very much a people's project and if it's not in tune with what you want, let us know.

"I think the idea is absolutely fantastic and I think it will happen.

Individuality

"The major aim is for all clubs involved to retain their individuality but it will be a community sports facility better than Robin Park and the JJB in Wigan which is more a commercial facility."

Centurions chairman Mike Nolan and RMI are fully behind the plan. Mr Nolan said: "This scheme would really put Leigh on the sporting map and make the town the envy of many.

"It's not pie in the sky. This is very much achievable because all the parties want to make it happen.

"We at the Centurions want to get into Super League, RMI have ambitions to become a Football League club - surely a purpose-built stadium and sports complex and only enhance both our chances.

"We want both the soccer and rugby clubs to thrive and they can only do that with continued success on the field and the support of the Leigh public. It's absolutely vital that fans of both codes, rugby and soccer, get together and support each other and work towards getting this project off the drawing board and into reality."

Transport Secretary, Stephen Byers, is expected to visit the site on November 2.