NEWLY-NAMED Middlesbrough AC (Mandale) is hoping to play a leading part in raising finance for the £5m modernisation of Clairville Stadium, which it shares with local rivals Middlesbrough and Cleveland Harriers.

The name change - from Mandale Harriers & AC (Cleveland) - follows hard on the heels of the controversial decision not to merge Teesside's two major athletics clubs, despite a majority of members voting for the amalgamation.

Now Middlesbrough AC is forging ahead to ensure that the town's athletes will have the best possible indoor and outdoor facilities.

Dave Parry, secretary of Middlesbrough AC, does not think that the name change, endorsed last week by the North of England AA, will cause any problems.

He said: "I don't think there will be any confusion between the names of the two clubs. It is just a pity we didn't amalgamate for the benefit of everyone - it would have solved many local problems.

"Most of the Middlesbrough and Cleveland members did want the merger, that's the awful thing, but they just failed to get the necessary two-thirds majority.

"But it's no good looking back, we must be positive and look forward."

"The whole point of changing our name from Mandale to Middlesbrough AC is to support Middlesbrough Borough Council's bid for lottery funding for the £5m project at Clairville to develop an indoor athletics centre and provide indoor training facilities.

"Moving the cycle track and providing the cyclists with alternative training facilities will mean that the athletics track can be expanded to eight lanes and will comply with new safety regulations.

"We have taken this step in a bid to get the necessary funding. If we are not united as a community in Middlesbrough it endangers the whole project.

"Our intention is to provide the best possible facilities for everyone at all levels, from joggers through to elite athletes, including the disabled.

"To help this objective we will call ourselves Middlesbrough AC from now on.

"I don't think it will clash with Middlesbrough and Cleveland. We just want to move forward for the benefit of athletics in Middlesbrough."

l At an EGM of Middlesbrough and Cleveland Harriers last month over 63 per cent of members voted for the proposed amalgamation with Mandale, just short of the required two-thirds majority.