PLANS for a takeover of a Nelson club are in doubt after police objected to the proposal.

An application by Stephen Twist to become the licensee for The Irish League Club, in Walton Street, Nelson, is being opposed by the police.

Mr Twist, 47, of Smith Street, Nelson, is now considering withdrawing the application, which could result in eight jobs being lost at the club.

Police said the former landlord of the Prince of Wales pub in Leeds Road, should not be allowed to run the pub because he has previous convictions for being drunk and disorderly and assaulting a police officer.

PC Mark Driver said in a letter to the licensing committee: "At 2.55am on Sunday August 6 2006 an incident occurred outside the Prince of Wales public house which resulted in Mr Twist being arrested for assaulting a Police Constable.

"At the time of the offence he was extremely drunk and gave false details upon arrest."

On another occasion Mr Twist received a fixed penalty notice for being drunk and disorderly, the letter said.

He added: "I believe that the above facts constitute exceptional circumstances which lead to the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective being seriously undermined should this application be granted."

Mr Twist said:"The whole situation is ridiculous. The licence doesn't even allow me to sell alcohol, it just allows me to open the doors to the club.

"They have taken no consideration of the eight jobs that could be jeopordised by not allowing me to have the licence. It's very petty and I'm really angry that it has come to this."

The council will decide whether to allow the licence at a licensing meeting on January 28.