THE men behind multi-million pound plans for an academy of sporting excellence have revealed the thinking behind the idea.

Darlington Football Club is proposing a £12m project that includes football pitches, a sports centre, classrooms, a hotel and leisure outlets.

The club's chairman, George Houghton, and chief executive Jon Sotnick have revealed the background to the plan in a video available on the Northern Echo's website.

Mr Houghton said four factors were in place for the club to be successful.

He said they included the club infrastructure, a "super manager" and playing staff, commercial team and a business plan.

He said: "We have taken a long time to get this right, because before, it was like a field of dreams in Darlington.

"There was no substance behind this company."

Mr Sotnick said: "Football league clubs cannot survive alone on just their footballing income.

"Here at Darlington, we have worked very hard to increase our revenues from banqueting and conferencing and other events.

"But these cannot sustain a football club forever, and here at Darlington we want to put plans into place to secure our financial future."

The plans have also continued to receive praise from outside the club.

Borough councillor Peter Foster, who represents the ward in which the stadium is built, said: "This is ideal. "There is something there for everybody. There should be no more moaning that there is nothing for kids to do."

Paul Bielby, a former professional footballer, dreams of seeing the town as a leader in sports innovation

He said: "It is a breath of fresh air for sporting facilities in Darlington.

"We all want Darlington Football Club to do well and I hope this is the start of improved sporting facilities in the town."