ACCRINGTON Stanley have taken over at one of the town's best-loved pubs in a bid to increase the cash coming into the club.

The Crown in nearby Whalley Road will be converted into a football-themed pub after Stanley took over the lease.

Chief executive Rob Heys said he was keen to expand the operation at the club and taking over the pub was a way of raising much needed extra cash.

And he said that they were hoping to completely refurbish the sports bar at their Fraser Eagle Stadium to make it a facility for corporate guests.

That will mean nowhere for regular fans to drink at the ground, hence the take over of the Crown.

Mr Heys said: "We are very happy to take over at the Crown.

"It is a great location and one that is already very popular with supporters.

"We are trying to improve facilities for fans at the stadium and this could be one way of increasing service while also bringing the club more money.

"The pub would be a seven-days-a-week operation not dependent on the football team."

He said that the club had taken on a five-year lease at the pub from Punch Taverns but hoped to extend that ..

The popular pub, which has been closed for just over a month, has long been a favourite with Stanley fans and for years the team's stadium was called the Crown Ground because of its proximity to it.

Meanwhile have vowed to fight the club's plans to increase the opening hours at its social club.

More than 40 people have signed a petition against the plans and Hyndburn Council's licensing committee have received a number of written objections.

The club hopes to expand the operating hours of the social club at their Livingstone Road ground to attract corporate clients and organised parties.

The licensing application comes as the club announced that it has taken over the Crown pub in Whalley Road.

Chief Executive Rob Heys said he was keen to co-operate with local residents to overcome any concerns that they have about increased opening hours at the social club.

He said: "There is no intention to open the social club until 1am every night and, we are just applying for a standard modern licence."