Club plans could bring 1,000 jobs

Facilities at Penydarren Park are limited

More than 1,000 jobs could be on their way to south Wales as talks get underway about moving a football club's ground and building a massive new sports village.

The owner and chairman of Merthyr Tydfil Football Club have been meeting councillors behind closed doors to discuss the plans.

Penydarren Park - home to the Martyrs for almost a century - has limited facilities.

There is only room for 100 cars and it is right in the middle of a residential area.

Now the club is looking for something much bigger.

With their sights set on promotion to the football league, the club chairman and owner want to build a 12,500-seat stadium on the other side of town.

Biggest challenge

Plans also include a 3,000-seat sports and concert hall, a hotel, cinema and retail outlets.

The club said it already has private financial backing and gaining planning permission will be its biggest challenge.

But equally ambitious schemes by other developers have never come to fruition.

The new village could cover hundreds of acres and include a business and media centre, a zoo and new housing.

Planning applications could be made within days with a start in March of next year.