Planners in East Staffordshire say it is vital the National Football Centre development near Burton-on-Trent goes ahead as planned.

The Football Association (FA) announced on Tuesday it was to review the �70m project at Rangemore because of its cost.

Julian Mott, the leader of East Staffordshire Borough Council, said if the centre was delayed it would have major implications for the whole area.

Building work on the site has yet to start and it will be put on hold until the FA make a decision in the next few weeks.

What we want to do is just to make sure that... the Football Association can afford it

Paul Barber, FA

The Burton centre will include 14 pitches, sports medicine and sports science centres.

On Tuesday, marketing and communications director Paul Barber said the FA "very much wants to complete" the centre.

But he said that the ruling powers within the organisation need to consider "whether the FA can afford it".

Mr Barber said: "Given that the National Football Centre is a key project going forward, the board wanted to understand fully the implications of our budget against that priority.

"However, what we want to do is just to make sure that over the course of the next few weeks the board takes the time to look at the money we have got coming, look at the commitments we have already made elsewhere and just make sure the Football Association can afford it."