DUMBARTON FC Director Ian Wilson is hoping the overwhelming majority of supporters understand the commercial case for the club's proposed relocation to Young's Farm.

The Championship club rolled out the red carpet to fans on Friday as they revealed their £14m stadium relocation proposals.

During the day fans were able to peruse drawings and architect's plans of their proposed new stadium, to the west of town, and they were given an opportunity to fill out a questionnaire.

When asked about the public exhibition of the plans Wilson said: "Of the ones that have been through, I think 99 per cent of them get it, believe in it.

"There's always one or two who always want to stay where we are and that's their prerogative but I think there's an overwhelming majority who understand the commercial case and have the desire to see the club play at a high level."

Since the proposed relocation plans were revived debate has raged about whether or not the club should relocate to an area designated as Greenbelt.

However, Wilson explained that Young's Farm was the only suitable location.

He explained: "We looked at 18 sites, then narrowed it down to three. This one was number three.

"One was in Bowling, another was the site that Chivas had in Dumbuck and that was right on the cusp of being right.

"But after discussions with the council and Chivas and what we thought the club needed, that stopped being number one.

"We liked Young's Farm. We were very fortunate because the club had a long standing co-operative relationship with Chivas who owned it and we have taken an exclusive option on the land, which, if we can planning permission, we'll exercise."

The Championship club recently announced updated plans to sell their current stadium and move west to Young’s Farm and build a new 3,000-seat stadium.

Also part of the project are plans for as many as 200 new homes, along with leisure facilities, gym and training facilities.

It’s also understood that a public park will be part of the masterplan in honour of Robert the Bruce, who reputedly stayed in the area.

But everything hinges on the project being granted planning permission.

Wilson believes the community will benefit from the relocation in terms of new facilities.

He is also confident that what they leave behind will also be given back and put to good community use.

He said: "What we have tried to do is make the project attractive to not only the team and the fans of the team, but we want to build something that the town can be proud of.

"We'll also offer things to the community that it does not have at the moment.

"For example, the Council have a very high profile project for a riverside walkway.

"We have said that we'll give them some of the land for the walkway and we'll give them some more for a visitor centre, coach parking and at Young's Farm we want to build community pitches.

"If we can generate the extra revenue steams this stadium will give us, we'll be able to consider a full-time team, full -time backroom staff, physios nutritionists all sorts of people. We can offer that capacity to the community.

"At the moment we're a part-time club and we are just about keeping our heads above water- but that's not a sustainable model.

"If we do stay here then it's hard to believe we'll still be in this league in two or three years time."

Simon Barrow, who represents the Sonstrust in negotiation with the stadium developers, said: "The healthy turnout at the public consultation on Friday shows the high level of local interest in these new stadium proposals.

"There was also a good deal of engagement with the display before the game against Morton.

"Many people remarked on the ambition of the plans. What everyone wants to be sure of is that they are workable and sustainable in planning and business terms moving forward.

"As a provident society with a significant stake in the club, the Sonstrust will continue to urge the fullest involvement of supporters in the future of the club.

"I'm sure there will be plenty of good discussion and questions for co-owner Ian Wilson and his colleagues at the general meeting called by the trust on Wednesday 23rd November.

"That takes place immediately after our AGM at 7pm at the Rock Bowling Club."