A HAMPSHIRE football club that is pinning hopes on building a £1m dream training centre could have its hopes dashed - thanks to a gaggle of geese.

AFC Porchester has kicked off a campaign to raise cash for a huge new complex at Wicor Recreation Ground in the town.

But Fareham Council planning chiefs have advised them to rethink their blueprints as the planned all-weather floodlit pitch could interfere with the protected species of Brent geese that migrates from Siberia in the winter.

Club secretary Paul Kelly said: "It is frustrating. We have been devising these plans for months and the council knew what we were doing but they have pulled this thing out at the last minute.

"They say the pitch could prove a threat to the Brent geese."

Planning chiefs warned the club at a pre-application meeting that Wicor Recreation Ground is a protected area for the birds and that it must check with what is permitted on the land with English Nature.

Andy Gordon, English Nature conservation officer, said they always strive to find a compromise between developers and the birds where possible.

He added: "But if it can be argued that by disturbing the geese it will have an adverse effect on the integrity of the bird then a proper assessment will have to be carried out by the local authority."

Bosses at the 500-strong club, who were awarded the county's first ever FA Community Club Award, have got their sights set on the purpose-built facility, complete with boardroom, training gym, changing rooms, bar and flood-lit all-weather pitch.

The FA has pledged 65 per cent of the total if they can come up with the rest and they have already begun fundraising.

But now Mr Kelly thinks they will now have to focus on getting the pitch pushed through first rather than putting in an application for the whole lot in one go.

He said: "I think we may have to focus on getting the seniors pitch sorted first as it seems to have the most issues. We just hope people keep supporting our fundraising efforts."

Anyone wishing to help contribute to fundraising should call Paul Kelly or club chairman Steve Broom on 07802 605507.