Holland is delighted with the Stoke City training ground investment

Stoke City have been granted permission to go ahead with their planned £6.5m training ground.

But the Potters have been told they will have to open the facilities to the local community once it is completed.

The condition was imposed on the plans at a council meeting in Newcastle-under-Lyme on Tuesday.

Potters academy manager Steve Holland told BBC Radio Stoke: "Having a modern-day training ground will help us attract better players at all levels."

Holland was sacked as first-team manager of Crewe Alexandra in November.

During his 18 years at Crewe, Holland was responsible for producing millions of pounds worth of talent that came through the youth ranks.

Dean Ashton, Danny Murphy, Rob Hulse, Billy Jones, and Nicky Maynard were among those sold to clubs in the Premier League and Championship.

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