Dundee FC has sensationally pulled out of plans for a £21 million regional sports centre in Caird Park.
The Dens Park side were to have based their training centre at the site but are now looking to have the facility at a different location.
It was revealed on Monday that plans for the centre are being revised following the club’s withdrawal from the project.
An official planning application for the centre was submitted in July but a revised application will now be submitted in early 2017.
Councillors were due to decide on the application in October but the proposal was withdrawn from the committee agenda because of a last-minute legal objection.
Dundee City Council administration leader Ken Guild said Dundee FC’s withdrawal will allow the site to be organised in a “more efficient and effective way”.
He said: “When the original planning application was lodged in July the centre was going to provide facilities for Dundee FC as well as a training and competition venue for regional squads across a wide but defined range of sports.
“The football club withdrawing its interest has given us an opportunity to take another look at the site and see if there is another way to lay out the facilities that we want to have there in a more efficient and effective way.
“It will also offer an opportunity to locate the new facilities further away from potentially sensitive areas within the park.
“That means that an amended planning application will be submitted once that process is complete and we have a detailed site plan to consider.”
Mr Guild vowed the centre will still go ahead.
He said: “The eastern end of Caird Park is still an ideal location for this impressive centre where it will integrate with the existing athletics stadium and velodrome.
“Council officers will now be working hard with our partners in sportscotland to provide a top-class facility that can be open for both performance and community use and will be an exciting addition to the city’s superb range of sporting facilities.
“I am keen that as many people as possible benefit from the centre.”
Sports including badminton, basketball, netball, rugby and volleyball will be provided for in the new building while athletics, golf and track cycling will be part of the wider campus.
In a statement released on Dundee FC’s website, managing director John Nelms said: “The club maintains a good relationship with the council and we continue to work alongside them in relation to an alternative location for the club facility.”
This weekend Dark Blues manager Paul Hartley said he would like Dundee FC to get its own training facility.
