The Dale Chairman took over at Dark Lane two years ago and has so far celebrated great success on the field with Jim McCluskie's side clinching promotion to the UniBond First Division last season and are currently in the top four in that league.

And off the field, Andrew is now hoping to oversee the development of a £700,000 new sports complex at Dark Lane.

They are still waiting for planning permission which is due about mid-November and then they are hoping to build behind one stand something modelled on the similar lines to the JJB Sports Stadium and Blackburn's Academy.

"I thought about the complex because I have a seven-year-old and a ten-year-old boy who go to football but are limited by some of the facilities," said the 38-year-old.

"I went to look at Wigan's JJB Sports complex and saw how that had developed and decided I wanted to do something like it for the kids.

"We are waiting for permission off Rossendale Council but are optimistic.

"We want it for the community but it will also be a boost for the us as a non league club."

Dale are hoping the Football Foundation will pay 65 per cent of the costs for the 3000 square milr and then they will get the rest from various sources.

"It will contain a surface like the ones at Blackburn's Academy, the latest, and a lecture theatre, a full-time physiotherapist department, a cafe bar and will will also be developing the full length side of the ground with a stand for 500 people."

Irt