BOLTON Wanderers' academy for talented young footballers could have a controversial new home -- in a £155,000 dome at a Horwich school.

A row is blowing up over the inflatable air dome, planned to cover an all-weather pitch at St Joseph's RC School, which residents claim resembles a "giant golf ball."

But the school, which boasts specialist sports college status, insists the project will herald major sporting benefits for the area.

Headmaster Leo Conley said: "It will be a massive resource for the school and community and will help Bolton Wanderers keep their academy."

Wanderers have made no secret of their desire to find a new home for the academy nearer the Reebok stadium. The academy currently uses local schools for training sessions and matches.

Children as young as nine are invited to join the academy which aims to produce the Whites' next generation of stars.

The school already had permission to create a 60 metre by 40 metre floodlit pitch which residents protested would create light and noise pollution but Wanderers' involvement has heralded a change of plans.

Mr Conley said using the revolutionary blow-up dome -- one of the first in the country -- would prevent both problems because it can be internally lit and is effectively soundproof.

The absence of floodlights meant that unlike the previous application it could be sited behind the school's sports hall, further from Sefton Lane.

But Tony Ball, who lives in the road, remains far from convinced. He said: "It's unbelievable really. This is an inflatable golf ball which will dominate our line of vision.

"If the Wanderers academy is using the facility outside school hours, I fail to see how it will benefit the wider community."

Horwich Town Council has voted to oppose the air dome project on the grounds that it will be an eyesore.

Ward councillor and Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Barbara Ronson called for more detailed information about the scheme.

She said: "We have listened to the residents' concerns and we want to see better projections of how it looks before we can make a decision."

A large dome erected over three tennis courts at Cwmbran, South Wales, last year was one of the first of its kind in the country. It uses polyester stretched across a galvanised steel cable net.

St Joseph's has applied for temporary permission for the air dome for two years. Wanderers would have exclusive use of the facilities between 6pm and 9pm on weekdays and on Saturday mornings.

A spokesman from Bolton Wanderers said: "We are not looking to base ourselves at any one particular venue at this stage but our involvement with St Joseph's goes back over two years during which time they have been very supportive and we have had a good relationship with other schools.

"We have used their facilities for our budding players in the academy and hope to continue that association.

"This new facility will add benefit to their status as a sports college, not just for Wanderers players of the future but for the community in general."