Ambitious plans for a combined football, cricket and croquet club centre are being considered by the new owners of Abingdon Town Football Club.

Oracle Leisure, which bought the lease of the Culham Road ground from the football club for £205,000, wants to create a joint clubhouse for the football club and clubs that use the Hales Meadow cricket ground.

Director Martin Stephens said the idea was in its early stages and Oracle was not yet in a position to submit planning applications.

He said: "Relations in the past with the cricket club have not been all they should and we want to restore the relationship.

"We want to improve facilities and create one large clubhouse. We believe it could be a vibrant sports and social centre for Abingdon."

Oracle would oversee the project with support from the other two clubs. Financial backing would be sought from sporting bodies, local councils and the Lottery.

Mr Stephens said the aim was to put the football club on a firm financial basis after years of struggling.

He said: "Abingdon Football Club has a history stretching back 135 years and it is our intention to build on that pedigree.

"We must look ahead and we welcome all former committee members to join with us to help make the club a force for the future."

Oracle owns Abingdon's nightclub Strattons and the snooker club. Tom Larman has been appointed as the club's new general manager.

Mr Stephens's brother David, a partner in Oracle, said: "Tom Larman has plans to get this club moving again.

"There will be a lot more football here at all levels, youth and Sunday football.

"We plan to start operating a social club seven nights a week and want to encourage the public to use the venue."

Chairman of Abingdon Vale Cricket Club, Robin Newman, said: "We would welcome any approach that could lead to better facilities.

"Some weekends there are two matches being played here and we need more and better changing rooms.

"Establishing a joint sports facility here is something that sounds very attractive for the future."