PORTSMOUTH Football Club's hopes of a new training ground could be shown the red card, the Daily Echo can reveal.

The south coast club, which currently trains at Eastleigh, has been desperately hunting for a new state-of-the-art facility to match its Premier League status.

But Fareham councillors are being recommended to kick out plans for a training complex in the Mill Lane area of Titchfield.

The application is part of a 15-page document which will be considered by Fareham's Planning Development Control Committee on January 14.

In the Meon Valley, the 22 hectare site falls within a area of special landscape character and the Titchfield Abbey Conservation Area.

Councillors will be told that the Premiership club wants to develop the site to accommodate professional and youth academy training facilities.

The proposed complex would include an indoor training area, changing rooms, seven full sized football pitches, two three quarter sized and two mini soccer pitches and a 100 space car park.

There would be an amphitheatre with seating for 40 people.

As part of the package Pompey would forge a partnership programme with Fareham Council, primarily to focus on the sporting needs of young people in the borough.

Premier League and Hampshire FA chiefs have backed Portsmouth FC's proposal for a training ground at Titchfield.

But there has been strong opposition from the Fareham Society, the Titchfield Village Trust and Catisfield Village Association.

Protestors maintain that it is not the right place or an appropriate site for the proposed change of use.

There are also fears that it will threaten the character of the area and concerns about drainage and water pollution.

But there have also been letters of support which point out that the football club would bring trade and prestige to the area as well as creating new jobs.

In recommending that permission be refused planning officers say it is a major planning application which involves development within the Meon Valley and an area of special landscape character.

Although they recognise there are clear community benefits, officers say there are a significant number of issues which remain unresolved and of concern.