Cricket club bosses today unveiled detailed plans for their multi-million pound new ground and pavilion at Fulledge -- as councillors prepared to decide whether the publicly-owned recreation ground site is for sale.

Cricket chiefs want residents to back their plan to sell the present Turf Moor ground to Burnley FC and relocate in a state-of-the-art centre to be paid for by the town's soccer bosses.

They have now presented their proposals to council leaders, residents' representatives, MP Peter Pike and town hall officers underlining the benefits they believe the development would bring to the town and the local community.

Cricket club officials also took their campaign to the streets today as they delivered scores of glossy leaflets to residents, calling on them not only to support, but become part of the project.

And club treasurer John Heys promised an early public meeting with residents.

The moves came as it was revealed the issue will go to Tuesday's meeting of the council's recreation and leisure committee where councillors will be asked for an "in-principle" decision on whether they wish to sell off Fulledge site. A " no" vote would totally stump the whole scheme while "yes" would leave the way open for major planning proposals to go to the council, allowing the project to move ahead rapidly.

Burnley's only Socialist Alliance Socialist councillor Andrew Holder organised a small protest outside the cricket club before last night's meeting.

He said today: "I remain totally opposed to any sell-off of land which belongs to the people of Burnley.

"The council should not be handing over Fulledge Recreation Ground to rich and powerful groups -- that would be theft from the people."

In a message to residents, cricket club chairman Arthur Young said the development would enhance property values.

"Residents will be more than welcome as social members to a club within easy reach of their community and to appreciate and enjoy state-of-the-art facilities in modern, idyllic surroundings."

The whole project -- redevelopment of the present cricket ground, building a new two-storey pavillion, training and leisure facilities and ground at Fulledge, plus a lump sum payment to secure the cash-strapped cricket club for the forseeable future -- would cost the football club an estimated £10m.

Burnley FC say they would use the cricket ground for bulding a new cricket field stand, with commercial development, possibly a hotel, on the remainder of the land.

Residents' representative Jack Howorth said last night's presentation failed to win him over and warned that unless details of long-term funding were made clear, any new cricket club and pavillion on the Fulledge site would be unviable and could become Burnley's Millennium Dome project.

But he admitted some residents may be swayed by the cricket club's arguments.

Picture: A architect's drawing of the new pavilion and cricket club vice-chairman and treasurer John Hayes and chairman Arthur Young with the plans for Fulledge recreation ground