THE first plans of the relocated home of St Ives Town Football Club are due to go on display next week.

The Saints have asked St Ives firm Partners in Planning (PiP) to help them sell their current four-acre site at Westwood Road to allow them to buy and develop a piece of land on Somersham Road.

On Tuesday (January 29) plans for around 50 homes in Westwood Road and a clubhouse and stadium with a full size and smaller training pitches will be exhibited at the Westwood Road ground between 3pm and 8pm.

David Mead, of PiP, said that the club is looking to get outline planning permission ahead of selling the land, which could possibly be put on the market in Autumn.

He told The Hunts Post: “The important thing is that there always has to be a pitch. The buyer will have to put some money into getting the pitch laid before the development as it takes some time to get established.

“The problem St Ives has at the moment is that there is no room for development which the land in Somersham Road offers.

“There will be around 50 homes on the site, but it will all depend on how big they are and the response from the consultation and discussions with Huntingdonshire District Council.”

Simon Clark, St Ives Town FC secretary, said the move was to secure the future of the club. “We are looking at developing the finances of the club for the future,” he added.

“I know that some people think that clubs sell off their land to boost their bank balances but all the money received will go towards developing the new ground.

“We have seen quite a few grounds that we are impressed with. We visited Quorn FC in a pre-season friendly and I know that St Neots are our rivals but we admire their ground - that’s the facility benchmark we are looking forward to achieve.

“We know that moving from the hub of the town to outside the centre and it isn’t the most popular of moves for fans but it is for the future of the club.”

PiP is looking to submit the outline planning permission on both sites in February.