CREDITON RFC officials fear plans to relocate a school on to their Blagdon pitch could have severe repercussions for the club's future.

Devon County Council has proposed to move Queen Elizabeth Community College, which is currently split between two different sites, on to the Devon & Cornwall outfit's ground on Exhibition Road.

Kirton have been searching for a new, bigger home for several years in order to cope with their expanding youth section, and intended to fund any move by selling Blagdon to a housing developer.

But if the school proposal gets the nod the council would only be obliged to provide the rugby club with a replacement home of similar size to Blagdon.

Crediton president Paul Harris believes that would severely stunt the club's future prospects of success, growth and their ability to produce young players in the future.

As a result Harris says his club is prepared to fight the council's plans, starting by demanding a public enquiry into the proposal.

He said: "If our ground is earmarked for a school we won't be able to sell if for residential use, we won't be able to fund our own move and the club would stagnate.

"We may find we don't have accommodation for our junior sides and that's the lifeblood of our club.

" Of the three senior sides selected last weekend, more than 75 per cent of the players had come through our junior section — we cannot afford to lose that and it would be an impossible situation for us.

"When we found out about the plans it was shock, horror.

"There will always be a Crediton Rugby Club but whether or not we will be able to expand as we have been trying to do remains to be seen."

Crediton currently have two pitches, a clubhouse and a car park at Blagdon.

The club also hires three pitches on the opposite side of Exhibition Road. All of that would be swallowed up under the council's plans.