THE men who helped save Ashford Town Football Club from financial ruin last year have announced plans for an £8million regeneration scheme for the Homelands Stadium site.

If backed by council planners the project could secure the club's future and provide a huge boost for grass roots football and sport in the town.

Club directors Don Crosbie and Tony Betteridge, who took over the Homelands helm from director of football Tim Thorogood only last March, revealed their dreams at a Meet The Manager forum with supporters.

The redevelopment includes building a 5,000 capacity stadium and six new pitches, including a first team surface similar to that at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.

The businessmen, who are also involved with the Hop Farm at Paddock Wood, envisage a new sports village and hotel complex for Ashford spread over 40 acres that could generate upwards of £2million a year.

Mr Crosbie said: "We took the club over last year when it wasn't going anywhere and needed a lot of refurbishment.

"We realised back then that to move things forward and for the sustainability of the club it needed enabling development to go around it.

"There are 1,150 boys and girls playing football in Ashford every week. We thought if we can build a proper academy for them we can have youngsters from the borough going through the system to play for their local side.

"It would be wonderful to see the football club stand on its own feet and with a sporting legacy for the future."

If given the go ahead the site would include an indoor tennis and fitness centre, offices, a banqueting suite, cycle track and multi-sports pitches.

See Thursday's Kentish Express for the full story.