FORMER Albion player Nigel Quashie has jumped at the chance to save Halesowen's Powerleague site from closure.

Nigel and his partner Kerry Clarke and Kerry's dad Ian plan to spend a "considerable amount of money" revamping the tired 5-a-side facility in Park Road.

The site was one of 13 Powerleague venues nationally earmarked for closure, but now its future looks bright thanks to the family, who own Boing Zone trampoline parks and will take over the site in January.

The new facility will be called Soccer Zone from January 31 and former Premier League and Scotland International Nigel, who has played for West Brom, Wolves and Birmingham City will be the general manager.

The clubhouse will be refurbished and will open as a sports bar in February. The changing rooms will also be revamped and the pitches will have their astroturf renewed with the addition of a brand new 9-a-side pitch later in the year.

Nigel, who runs his development academy at the site, said: "I'm excited at this opportunity to provide great facilities for children of all abilities to train and improve their footballing skills, and look forward to expanding my academy so that as many players as possible are given the opportunity to sign for professional academies."

Kerry, who owns Boing Zone trampoline parks with her dad Ian, said: "We have a lot of plans - it's going to be amazing.

"In the first six months people will see a massive difference.

"It hasn't been looked after - it has been neglected so we are completely renovating it.

"We will be spending a considerable amount of money.

"We are looking forward to providing first class facilities for local football teams, community groups and schools."

Nigel's IPDA, (Improving Players Development Academy) offers specialized intensive training to over 200 aspiring academy players, with 15 players already signed to Professional Football Clubs including Nigel and Kerry's 11-year-old son Brayden, a Wolves academy player.

The complex will be open every day and available during the daytime to local schools and special needs and disability groups, with a resident sports therapist and rehabilitation gym.

Landlords Derek and Christine Beasley - the original owners of the land - developed Hayes Park Stadium and ran Halesowen Harriers before leasing the stadium to Power League in 2003.

Derek said: “We are delighted to hand over the responsibility of running this complex to another local family, who have such great plans for a centre of excellence for the local community”

The 5-a-side operation will carry on without interruption.

Ian and Kerry Clarke opened their first trampoline park in Mill Race Lane, Stourbridge, in 2015 and now have two others in Cannock and Birmingham as well as the Midland’s first inflatable theme park which opened earlier this year in Birmingham.