ACCRINGTON Stanley have insisted they are well worth an £84,000 subsidy from Hyndburn taxpayers – after claims the money could be spent on improving the borough’s sports facilities instead.

A partnership with Hyndburn Council will allow the Reds to play at the Fraser Eagle Stadium for the next three years and could also lead to enhanced community use of Bullough Park with a three-stage development including a football training pitch, artificial surface and possibly an indoor gym.

The plans were called before the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee by Rishton councillor Harry Grayson on the grounds of “inappropriate use of council resources”, but they have now been approved.

Councillor Grayson said: “This money should be used to regenerate and upgrade football pitches throughout the borough that have suffered a lack of investment.”

But Stanley chief executive Rob Heys said: “The council owns the ground and the rent has risen significantly over the past 10 years from around £4,000 to £28,000 because we have improved the facilities.

“Obviously it would be a significant drain on our budget paying that out every year so we have worked with the council to come up with an exchange policy.

“We don’t pay the rent and in return we give something back to Accrington with our community scheme.

“We have three full-time staff and a handful of volunteers going out to schools, running Soccer Tots, which concentrates on fun football for toddlers.

“We also spend a session with pensioners once a week.

“We try and work in deprived wards where there is a high incidence of crime and try to bring something positive to the community.”

He added: “Every football club has community schemes but we are hoping we can offer something unique with plenty of player involvement.

“We have received good reviews from all over the country and we want to develop it further. We have a good relationship with the council and we hope everyone is a winner with it.