RADCLIFFE Cricket Club is planning to sell its Racecourse ground for housing and relocate to the Cams Lane running track, where it hopes to establish a £500,000 multi-sports centre.

The proposals come just six months after the club quashed rumours that it was planning a move.

Club chairman David Halliwell has revealed that a developer has already put in a seven-figure offer for the land.

At tonight's meeting of Radcliffe Area Board, the club will put forward its plans to turn the disused running track at Cams Lane into a new community sporting centre for the town.

But Radcliffe Juniors Football Club will also try to persuade council bosses that they should be given the site.

Rumours that the cricket club was planning to move began circulating in the summer, but officials denied them. It has since emerged that as far back as last November the club was looking to sell part of the Racecourse ground for housing.

The cricket club says that works estimated at £220,000 are required to the Racecourse ground to bring the pitch and other facilities up to standard, and there is little hope of raising the money.

Mr Halliwell said: "The club has been going since 1895 and we want it to be around for another century. The club would not fold if it remained at the Racecourse, but it would make it difficult to grow or develop."

Cllr Barry Briggs, Radcliffe Area Board chairman, said the cricket club and Radcliffe Juniors Football Club would present their reports at tonight's meeting at the Civic Suite, but the matter was so complex a special meeting will be held in a few weeks time to discuss the matter.

"At this stage the views of the area board are only being sought as to the decision-making process that should be adopted in dealing with the two expressions of interest in the land."