WORCESTERSHIRE FA is set to purchase Claines Lane – provided a proposed revamp gets the green light from planners.

The county association currently leases and manages the council-owned site but has secured the right to buy and plans to install floodlights, a 3G pitch and new changing and office facilities.

The proposed project is set to be funded by Worcestershire FA, partly through the sale of the leasehold of its current headquarters, with grants to be sought from the FA, Sport England and Football Foundation.

County chief executive Nichola Trigg extolled the virtues of sprucing up the facilities, having employees on hand and a central location for football in the area.

“It is an exciting opportunity and would give us a football home,” said Trigg.

“It is central in the area for which we are responsible and an opportunity the county needs. Given that it is already a sports ground that has been significantly underinvested in, for quite valid reasons, it seems ideal to reinvigorate the site.

“There is no floodlit pitch in the vicinity. It won’t be used that often but it will give an alternative when required which isn’t the case at the moment.

“There are a number of environmentally-friendly features in the plans because we don’t want to lose the vista. We want it to look welcoming and attractive while being sympathetic to the surroundings.

“We hope to get support from locals and particularly the councillors for us to bring in this investment that the area wouldn’t necessarily get (otherwise).

“We want to improve a facility that is already there. The only new part would be the offices and with us having our small number of staff there, it makes the site more secure.

“I hope the application will be looked upon favourably.”

Trigg added that the 3G pitch would address “an identified need” in line with the Playing Pitch Strategy put in place by Football Foundation and Sport England.

“Subject to planning being granted in the timeframe we are hoping for, we would close in the middle of May 2019 with the site reopening early in the 2019-2020 season,” Trigg added.

“We would work with the local leagues and clubs involved to make sure teams get away fixtures until we reopen. It will be a tight timescale but the priority will be to get football up and running with the right changing facilities.”

Trigg also confirmed there had been no discussions with Worcester City over using Claines Lane as a new home.

“They made enquiries, probably several years ago now, but it was dismissed as an unsuitable site for them,” she added.

“Ours is a much smaller operation. We are not talking about teams with massive followings, it is predominantly for grassroots including Sunday, women’s and youth teams.

“The clubs currently there have been very loyal to the site and we would look to retain those going forward. Ethically it is the right thing to do.”