Gosport Borough chairman McInnes eager to push forward with Privett Park redevelopment plans

And the Gosport Borough chairman insisted it's something the club must do if the newly- launched centre of excellence is to be a success.

McInnes and the club committee have used life in lockdown as an opportunity to look at ways of developing their site.

Ideally, the former Pompey chairman would like to install a second pitch - preferably a 3G surface - on existing land at the back of the ground.

The Borough chief is also keen for a gymnasium to be developed in the old academy classroom building in the corner of the site for first-team and centre of excellence use.

That's not all, though, with a doubled-sided stand to be installed behind the goal opposite the clubhouse end is another of McInnes' visions.

This would allow supporters a stand to watch the first team on the main pitch, but also provide a place for spectators to overlook the second pitch Borough hope to install.

Stadium works is something McInnes sees as essential if the club - currently in the seventh tier of English football - are to grow to the size he envisages.

Gosport launched a centre of excellence a few months ago, with under-18 and an under-23 side now playing under the club banner.

And with the academy section now back in association with the club, McInnes pinpointed the importance of all teams being able to play at Privett Park.

‘What we’ve got to do, and we’re talking about it now, the Covid thing has actually given an opportunity to talk about it and do it, it’s now just about starting,' McInnes revealed.

‘We now have to put more facilities in our ground so that when they finish in the academy they can bring people here so we can train them.

‘A gymnasium, we could ideally do with a second pitch out the back, which we’re talking about.

‘That could be a 3G out the back - to make it a school of excellence you have to be a school of excellence.

‘You want the guys to get the experience of playing at our ground.'

Discussions have already been held with the council about the need for a 3G pitch to be installed at Privett Park.

But McInnes feels it would not just benefit the centre of excellence and academy section.

Shaun Gale's first team are currently training at Privett Park on a Tuesday and then at the Hampshire FA's Front Lawn site on a Thursday.

But with the installation of a second pitch, McInnes sees it as an opportunity for the senior team to train in Gosport permanently as well.

‘This is where it has to come together a bit more,' he added.

‘There’s already been discussions with the council about the need for a 3G pitch.

‘We’ve got bags of space out the back.

‘There’s a pitch that runs the full length of the stadium out the back.

‘What we want to do is turn that into a 3G, fence it in and put a structure at the end.

‘That’s the plan and we want Joe Lea and Pat Suraci to get our under-18s and under-23s to play here.'

Gosport drew 0-0 at home to Wessex Leaguers Lymington Town in a pre-season friendly at the weekend.

The club are next in action against Horndean at Five Heads Park on Tuesday evening.