Flood-hit Tadcaster Albion reveal plans to build lavish new clubhouse

The football club has drawn up plans to build a new flood-proof clubhouse over two storeys at Ings Lane.

The current clubhouse has been locked up after sewage contaminated it during the record flood levels last month.

Tadcaster Albion chairman Matt Gore said: "We have been talking about a bid two storey clubhouse for a long time but the thought process has been escalated by the flood.

"We can knock down and rebuild. We want the ground floor to be an area for changing rooms and lower level viewing so we are flood proof.

"The thought of going through this again is not a nice one."

The Football Association launched an emergency £750,000 kitty to help affected clubs respond to damage caused by recent storms in the region.

Gore said the club were in talks with the FA but were also waiting to find out how much money it will receive from insurance cover.

He added: "We have spoken to the FA about it and different funding bids. We just need to finalise the situation with the insurance company."

Should planning permission be obtained, building work could start in the next two months.

"Hopefully it's going to be pretty quick.

"Once we have approval from the insurance company, i2i Sports will fund it in partnership with other funding bids."

However, the club has yet to file planning permission for the two-storey clubhouse but Gore hoped the process would be sped up as an emergency case.

He added: "I don't envisage it being such a lengthy process.

"We are hoping that they can fast track it because of the situation, so we are hoping we can get it all done in the next few weeks."

Planning permission has already been signed off for the club to erect new seated areas behind the goal at the opposite end to the current Ken Gilbertson side.

New standing areas will also be built behind the dugout on the River Wharfe side of the ground.