The club plans to sell its Christie Park ground and move to a brand new stadium - complete with training facilities, function rooms and community pitches - at Westgate.

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Morecambe were working towards a 2009/10 opening but delays in certain legal processes associated with the plans have caused them to reassess the timescale.

Chairman Peter McGuigan told The Visitor today, Tuesday: "We were being told that, because of one or two issues, the new ground could still be delivered quickly but it would not be fully ready until about September of 2009.

"We don't want that - we want to open the stadium properly with fans' days and a commemorative game. And also we want the team to have a full pre-season at the new stadium before the season proper starts.

"That's why we are now announcing that we will move to the new stadium at Westgate for the 2010/11 season.

"From the time we announced our proposals to the new opening date still represents a very swift and efficient operation for such a major scheme."

Mr McGuigan said that everyone involved in the process had worked speedily and efficiently and that the various consultations and negotiations had all gone smoothly and constructively.

There was no problem with any of the club's plans - the delay was due to procedural factors outside the club's control and the new deadline would give the club 'breathing space' to deliver the new stadium comfortably.