DEVIZES Town Football Club is confident it can still complete a deal to see its ground redeveloped for housing and anew complex opened at Green Lane.

Last week youth chairman Nathan Sheridan appealed for help from land owners in an attempt to find a new base for the 300 youngsters who play for club teams.

He said he was fed up with waiting for the development plans to move forward and said it might be time for the youth to go it alone.

But now former first team player Julian Alexander, who is advising the main club committee, said the plan was still alive.

He has compiled a report which has been sent to Devizes MP Claire Perry and Devizes Town Council.

It reveals that developer Robert Hitchins Ltd has secured access to the football club site in Nursteed Road which would be needed for it to be developed for housing.

At the moment the lane that leads to the club is very narrow and would have to be widened as part of any planning permission application.

Mr Alexander also said that Robert Hitchins has been in discussions with Linpac about buying the freehold of the site and with the NHS Trust and Devizes Town Council about Green Lane.

The report says: "A relocation facility proposal has been identified to deliver new football and community facilities at Green Lane, Devizes, which would enable the club to have a new home which could sustain them for the long-term future.

"This would enable all of the club’s teams to play on one site and for the first time have a true, one club identity, rather than the dispersed existence it currently has. In addition, and of equal importance, the new development would create new income streams for the club, thereby making the overall scheme sustainable."

Plans are made more difficult as the football club leases its 6.3 acre site from the Linpac Group and it would have to agree to sell the freehold for the scheme to be viable.

Green Lane playing fields is owned by the Government via a local NHS Trust but let to the town council on a 99 year lease. The report says: "The NHS Trust has previously indicated a willingness to sell its interest, whilst the Town Council has also expressed a desire to see improved sporting facilities on the site."

The club believes that funds from the sale of Nursteed Road along with grants from the Football Association would pay for the Green Lane complex.

Devizes Area Neighbourhood Plan includes the football club site as land for housing development.

Devizes MP Claire Perry is due to visit the club on October 12 to talk to chairman Shaun Moffatt and other committee members about the project.