CELTIC have moved a major step closer to replacing their dilapidated Barrowfield training ground with a new academy complex after agreeing the conditional purchase of a 50-acre site in Lennoxtown.

The Parkhead club have long been criticised for their poor facilities, especially since Rangers opened their pounds-14m Murray Park base in 2000.

Remedying that has become a priority for Celtic's plc board in recent months and they have now confirmed their preferred option for development at the former Lennox Castle Hospital in East Dunbartonshire.

The site is 12 miles from Celtic Park and, if completed, would see the club's day-to-day operations moved out of the east end of Glasgow.

The cost of the plan has so far only been described as "multi-million", but a chunk of the planned pounds-15m share issue is understood to have already been earmarked.

"The acquisition of this site as our preferred option is a milestone in fulfiling our plans to develop a world-class sports academy and training facility, as befits Celtic's stature in the game, " said Peter Lawwell, Celtic's chief executive.

"The site has huge potential and, while there are still various conditions to be satisfied including planning permission and detailed site investigations, we are confident that our vision for the future can be realised.

"We've all recognised for some time that the club needs modern training facilities to match its playing achievements at all levels and we are now well on the road to developing an academy everyone associated with Celtic can be proud of."

Improved facilities would help to attract new signings to the club and develop youth players. Current problems were emphasised last Friday when Barrowfield wasn't ready for the start of pre-season training, forcing Celtic to use a nearby athletics venue instead.

Lawwell said: "We currently invest around pounds-1.5m per year in our youth development programme and clearly the championship-winning success of our reserve and under-19 teams, and the introduction of a growing number of home-grown players into the first team, is evidence of our success.

"However, it is important that this standard is maintained and improved and, as well as providing world class facilities for our first team, we are sure that the new facility will play an important role in developing an increasing number of Celtic's stars of the future."

Subject to conditions being met, Celtic hope to start work at Lennoxtown early next year with a projected completion in the spring or summer of 2007.

Early plans include three grass pitches and one artificial pitch augmented by an an indoor training area. Gym, physio and sports science facilities would also be created as well as a new media centre.