DECISION time is approaching for Oxford United on whether it will be part of a planned £5m sports complex on the edge of the city.

The U’s currently train at a site in Roman Way but this is due to close in December, meaning its first team and academy could be left without a permanent home.

Oxford City Council says the club could relocate to a new, much larger neighbouring facility it has proposed off Horspath Road, which would include football and cricket pitches, a pavilion with changing facilities and a 150-space car park.

If plans are approved at a meeting tonight, the city council says this could be ready for use as early as January 2018.

But bosses at Oxford United are yet to declare whether it will move there, after provisionally agreeing its first team will train at Oxford City FC’s grounds at Court Place Farm.

It follows a row about who will manage the Horspath Road site – when a bid by United to run it was rejected by the city council.

Linda Smith, city council executive board member for leisure, said: “Oxford United need to decide if they are going to use the new facility at Horspath Road.

“There is space for them to use it and it has been designed to allow them to move temporary buildings there should they wish to.

“But we are still waiting to hear from them and there is ambiguity.

“The council is prepared for whatever decision is made but we need to know as soon as possible because, if planning permission is given, construction could start very soon.”

Mrs Smith said she was hopeful the plans would be approved tonight, adding: “I’m really excited about this new facility. It is going to be a fantastic addition to Oxford’s existing sports facilities and should address a lot of demand that is out there.”

United now faces the question of whether it will base its academy at the Horspath Road ground, as well as its first team in the long-term.

The city council negotiated with BMW for an extension to the club’s lease at Roman Way, where the carmaker wants to expand its Cowley Mini plant, but this ends in December.

The city council says the new Horspath Road site would likely be ready in time for the academy to move there, should the club take that option.

It said artificial pitches and a pavilion would open by January 2018, adding: “Grass pitches, which will need more time to bed down, will be open in summer 2018.”

An Oxford United spokesman yesterday said no senior figures were available to comment.

Plans for the sports complex will be considered by the east area planning committee, in a meeting due to start at 6pm.

It will be followed by a meeting a week later, which will consider BMW’s contribution to the scheme.