SPORTS supporters are being urged to unite behind super stadium plans to safeguard the future.

A new sports complex at Pennington will secure the long-term future of local clubs, says Leigh's sporting MP Andy Burnham.

Urging enthusiasts from all codes to unify behind the state-of-the-art complex plan, which would feature rugby, soccer, athletics and training facilities, said:

"Initial reaction to the plans has been encouraging and progress is being made. I have invited National Lottery distributor Sport England to come to Leigh to discuss the plans and that meeting is happening next week.

"I know that doubts are being expressed by some about whether the scheme will actually happen and I can understand those who say 'we'll believe it when we see it'.

"But, that said, there is a real danger that we will start to talk ourselves out of believing it can happen. If people here don't get behind it, we can hardly expect anyone else to have confidence in our ability to make it work.

"I am not in a position to guarantee that the scheme will go ahead. That is ultimately a decision for the partners in the scheme. But I believe it can work if everybody pulls together for the good of the town.

"The local clubs have legitimate questions about how it will work in practice. But nobody should lose sight of that fact that one of the main reasons why we are pushing this scheme is to secure the long-term future of all our local clubs.

"So I hope everybody who cares about sport in this town will get behind the plans. Rather than waiting for it to fail, people should be asking what they can do to help make sure it doesn't.

"What is the alternative?"