BLACKBURN Rovers are hoping to get the go-ahead for two significant developments to enhance the Ewood facilities.

They have put in planning applications to build a new RoverStore on the Blackburn End car park and aim to turn the present shop into a sports bar.

Ewood chief executive John Williams said there had been consultation with the local authority and also Ewood residents about the projects before going ahead with the applications.

He stressed: "We are very conscious of the need to talk these things through with the appropriate people."

The idea is to make the RoverStore bigger, primarily to help with matchday sales, which provide 40 per cent of the club's takings in that area. They also believe a sports bar, with big screen entertainment, could be a big asset to the club and a favourite with the fans.

"At the moment, we have about three and a half thousand square feet in the shop and we are looking at five and a half thousand," said Mr Williams. "There are obvious problems on matchdays with people queuing to get in.

"We want it to stand alone on the car park at the Blackburn End and it would be designed like a mini-stadium.

"The proposed sports bar would be an all-year round business but could be a members bar on matchdays, enabling season-ticket holders to join and use the facilities."

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