AMBITIOUS Darlington Football Club yesterday unveiled plans for a purpose-built training ground to be established in the town.

The Quakers, who have seen a transformation in fortunes since coming out of administration, have earmarked land next to the Williamson Motors Stadium for the facility.

Officials at the League Two club are now finalising plans to create a floodlit complex, to include three training pitches and a pavilion. Two of the pitches would be grass, while the other would have an all-weather surface.

The four acres of land, to the east of the £20m stadium, is accessible from the main car park, with access also available directly from the A66.

A local solicitors' firm, Blackett Hart and Pratt, has been engaged to handle the planning application, which will have to be submitted to Darlington Borough Council.

The club's chief executive, Andy Battison, said: "The team currently train in Durham, but it makes a lot of sense to use land we already own next to the stadium, so that we are bringing everything on to the one site and keeping things in Darlington."

Quakers' boss David Hodgson also gave his backing to the potential development.

He said: "We already know that having a quality home venue like the Williamson Motors Stadium is brilliant for the lads and it gives us a huge psychological lift to arrive here on match days.

"I hope that by having our own purpose-built training ground on site, it will not only make life easier by removing the need to commute, but that it will also give the players a boost on training days as well."

The club said preliminary discussions had been held with the local authority.

A council spokesman said yesterday: "We look forward to receiving the club's application, which, of course, will have to go through the due planning process."

The announcement of the plans comes just after the club confirmed that it was seeking talks with fast food chain McDonalds about a possible sponsorship deal for the North Stand.

Read more about the Quakers here.