REAL Murcia, regarded as one of the most ambitious clubs in Spain, are aiming to take a leaf out of Wanderers' book.

A recent trip to the Reebok convinced a delegation from the promotion-chasing Second Division club that they could do much more to maximise the commercial benefits of their own impressive new stadium.

The ultra-modern 33,000-capacity Nueva Condomina was officially opened in November when Murcia hosted a friendly international between Spain and Argentina.

But officials of the fast-growing club are exploring ways to use the city's showpiece facility for much more than staging football once a fortnight.

A whistle-stop tour to the North-west also took in visits to Old Trafford and Anfield but it was the Wanderers' set-up that particularly impressed the Murcia men, notably the deal with Reebok that gave the stadium with a globally recognised name and led to the multi-national sporstwear giant basing its European marketing headquarters in the North Stand.

A Murcia spokesman said: "The delegation returned from England loaded with new ideas.

"They found Bolton Wanderers very similar to Real Murcia, the same size city, with a new stadium."

Franck Passi, the respected French midfielder who spent two years at the Reebok and is still in touch with Sam Allardyce, was the first point of contact between Wanderers and Murcia.

There has been speculation in Spain that the link could lead to player exchanges in the future but neither club has suggested the visit was anything more than a fact-finding venture by the Spaniards.