A HAMPSHIRE football club has won support from would-be MPs in its campaign to get a council to hand over unused land.

BTC Football Club wants to double the size of its playing fields so the club can increase the number of pitches from three to six. Tory run Hampshire County Council is refusing give the club a lease on the land, in Stoneham Lane, Eastleigh.

Eastleigh Lib Dem candidate Chris Huhne, who is backing the campaign with Saints legend Lawrie McMenemy, said: “It’s crazy that this land has been unused for years when so many local people could benefit from extra playing space for football.”

Labour candidate Leo Barraclough said: “It seems strange that the county council isn’t prepared to back a proposal that would boost this successful community club, and help protect the greenbelt at the same time.”

UKIP candidate Ray Finch added: “We need to question the council’s commitment to young people and ongoing health issues. What do they want them to do, play football on a PlayStation?”

Damon Brown, chairman of the BTC Football Club, said: “The unused land used to be football pitches which we would like to take over again at no cost to the community.”

Hampshire County Council leader Ken Thornber said the authority was investigating all possible uses of the land before any decision could be made.