GIANT Axe, the home of Lancaster City Football Club, is set to be converted into a multi-million pound sports complex serving the city.

The £4 million plans designed to provide leisure facilities for local people and make the football club eligible for the Football League were unveiled this week.

Now, bosses at the club plan to start raising funds to pay for the dream stadium which will include a 6,000 seater stand, gymnasium, community all-weather pitches and a football school of excellence for the next generation of young City players.

Chairman John Bagguley told the Citizen: "Giant Axe needs upgrading, we are quite a way down the ladder in football terms and we have got to start climbing.

"We can't just look at things with football in mind. There are a lot of grants available out there for projects like this but they do revolve around the community.

"Things have started with promotion this season, and over the next five years this club will be looking towards the GM Vauxhall Conference. If we are doing that we may as well spend a little bit more and get the ground ready for the Endsleigh League."

It is hoped that cash for the ambitious project will come from the National Lottery, the Football Association and the Football Trust.

The first stage, expecting to cost around £2.5 million, will involve turning the main Giant Axe pitch around and building the new super stand at the Dolly Blue Tavern end of the ground. That stand will house the community gymnasium.

Club directors have been in discussion with Lancaster City Councillors about the proposed complex for months. Work isn't set to start on the scheme for a couple of years and more detailed plans will appear in next week's Citizen.

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