PLANS to flog the Hibee and relocate Drumchapel Amateurs lock, stock and barrel to Knightswood have provoked an angry reaction from football fans in the area.

The Post understands a high level meeting was held last week with the board members and coaches to discuss a move within five years.

It is felt the club - which boasts Sir Alex Ferguson as a director - has outgrown its Glenhead Park home.

But the blueprint has been met with dismay from Duntocher residents shocked at the idea they would sell an 'historical landmark' for housing and further strip the area of footballing facilities.

Commonly known as the Hibee, Glenhead Park is synonymous as the former home of defunct Junior side Duntocher Hibs.

Plans - revealed in the Post last year - are under way to re-launch the Junior team, but they, along with the amateur team, youth teams and 180 girls at Drumchapel, would all play from the new venue.

It would see three red blaize pitches, off Archerhill Road, redeveloped into a fully functional facility with changing rooms and stadium.

It is understood Drumchapel Amateurs Ltd had initially hoped to secure a move to Fore Park, just yards from their current ground, but a deal with West Dunbartonshire Council 'fell through'.

This forced its hand to look further afield and consider Knightswood, a proposal which has left Antonine FC chairman and current St Joseph"s Amateurs manager Willie Gibbons aghast.

He said: 'It is a kick in the teeth to the community, especially to the older generation who remember where it came from. The ground was given to the community by the farmer in Duntocher and was built by the people who live nearby.

'Even up until recently it was loaned out to clubs in the area for finals and big matches.

'I don"t understand why the community is not getting a say in this. Any move would be detrimental to the whole area and the sense of community.

'People like to go down and watch their grandchildren playing in the youth teams, but who is going to be able to nick down to Knightswood?

'It is an absolute sham and to lose the only really good sporting venue left in the area is a disgrace, but it seems they are not giving a monkeys about the damage they leave behind.' Sale of the Hibee could, however, prove problematic with a number of interesting items possibly lying underneath.

Rumour has it a double decker bus is buried at one end of the pitch while the club will need to carry out an expensive dig to prove there are no remains of the Antonine Wall, which now has World Heritage status.

Drumchapel Amateurs president Jimmy Wood said: 'All I can say at the moment is we [Drumchapel Amateurs Ltd] put forward a feasibility study considering a move to Knightswood.' A spokesperson for West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) said: 'We received an enquiry some time ago from one of the football club representatives in connection with the club taking over Fore Park. 'At the time the enquirer was advised that this may be something the council would consider as part of its pitch strategy which was under development.

'No further negotiations or talks took place.'