BLACKPOOL mayor and staunch football fan Fred Jackson still hopes to cheer on his team at a brand new £100m superstadium at Whyndyke Farm.

The mayor spoke out as stalemate between the club and developers continued - though the developers put in plans to Fylde Council last Friday (November 7) for a reduced-size 25,000-seat stadium and 8,000-seat indoor arena.

Councillor Jackson, who has watched the Seasiders at the antiquated Bloomfield Road stadium for 44 years, said: "I do hope that an agreement can still be reached between Blackpool FC and the developers.

"I get the impression from the club directors that there is a genuine desire to build at Whyndyke Farm and if I'm being realistic it is the ideal place.

"There's no doubt the fans are getting dreadfully frustrated with the fact that they've had to wait so long."

Negotiations between the club and land-owners broke down over the final contract for the land-deal.

Club chairman Vicki Oyston said the terms on offer would threaten the club's future.

The club is taking legal action against the landowners to revert to an original agreement signed 18 months ago.

Despite the impasse, both sides still seem to want the club at Whyndyke and the planning application frequently refers to football as the prime sport, stating: "The initial requirement of the scheme is to accommodate the needs of the relocated Blackpool Football Club."

The stadium could not survive without a weekly user, and Blackpool FC is the only professional club in the area with sufficient backing to take it on.

The plans were submitted in the name of specially-created development company Windsor Management, though the application will not be officially registered until final drawings are sent in next week.

The scheme also includes 67 acres of commercial development and 20 acres of housing.

Fylde Council would be likely to rule that the retail stores could not start trading before the stadium was up and running.

Fylde has up to March to make a decision.

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