CINDERFORD Town will submit a pre-planning application to redevelop their Causeway ground, seemingly ending long-term hopes that the club will move to a new home.

Town have long been linked with a move onto land at Forest High School, previously Heywood School.

But chairman Stuart Tait announced at the club’s annual presentation evening on Saturday that plans for a total overhaul are in the works.

A new clubhouse, stands, changing rooms and a 3G pitch are in the pipeline for the Causeway and the club to submit the pre-application at the end of the month, Tait said.

“Everyone now knows we are going to stay where we are,” he added.

“It’s only a principle at the moment but it’s a good, positive principle.”

Tait also confirmed that preparations for Town’s return to the Southern League Division One South & West next season are already being set, with manager Paul Michael meeting with the chairman this week to discuss his summer plans.

Michael plans to hold a ’teaser’ session ahead of pre-season training, allowing players interested in joining the club to meet and train with Michael ahead of committing to the summer programme.

Pre-season training at the Causeway will begin on June 20, while the Southern League season will start on Saturday August 12.

• SAMMIE Hicks was hailed at Cinderford Town’s presentation evening at the Causeway on Saturday, winning the players’ player of the year and supporters’ player of the year awards.

Hicks is one of two mainstays in the squad since the start of the season, alongside captain Josh Nelmes, and the pair are the only remaining members of the clubs’ title-winning team of 2015/16.

Manager Paul Michael named defensive midfielder Jack Alderdice as his player of the year, while stalwart Ken Phelps was named clubman of the year.

Phelps has been the driving force behind many projects at the Causeway, most notably the erection of a new stand to allow the club to comply with FA ground grading regulations.

The club’s Under-18s squad voted Mitch Howells, who made a handful of appearances for the first team at the end of the Southern League Premier Division season, as their players’ player of the year.

Ben Didcote was named player of the year while Billy Guest won the manager’s award from coach Brian Burke.