BIRMINGHAM Solihull have tabled plans for a 7,000 seat stadium at the Portway and hope to bring Zurich Premiership rugby to the old Birmingham RFC ground.

The ambitious club have outlined plans for a multi million pound revamp of the 43 acre site because there is not enough room to develop their current Sharmans Cross Road base.

The Bees have already tied up a lucrative sponsorship deal with developers Oakmoor Estates and plan to sell Sharmans Cross Road to finance the Portway project.

Oakmoor will sponsor the National One side to the tune of an undisclosed six figure sum annually for the next five years and have an option to purchase and develop the current Solihull site.

The club owns the car park and clubhouse on the six acre site and have an 85 year unexpired lease on the pitches.

Oakmoor will buy the site subject to attaining planning permission from Solihull Borough Council.

If sold the prime site could raise as much as £5m for the rugby club and would finance a Premiership standard ground at the Portway.

The 'plight' of National One champions Rotherham, who were controversially refused promotion to the Premiership last season, illustrates the need for clubs to have their house in order.

Birmingham Solihull have dropped to mid-table in National One after hanging on to Rotherham and big-money Worcester's coattails for much of the season.

The club would require planning permission from Stratford District Council to push ahead with their Portway project and planners have asked for detailed information on the development which will take the club around two months to supply.

If things go to plan, the first team could relocate in time for the start of the 2004-05 season.

The reserves side Solihull, who top the Powergen North Midlands One which also includes Redditch, Woodrush and Five Ways Old Edwardians, are already based at the Portway and visit Five Ways in a derby clash on Saturday.