Blackburn Rovers FC Reserves will have a new home for the 2009-2010 season, marking the end of a "first class" nine-year association with Morecambe FC.

Rovers have taken up an invitation to play their Barclays Premier Reserve League North fixtures at Leigh Sports Village, a brand new 10,000-plus complex opened recently by The Queen.

Rovers' football secretary Andrew Pincher said: "We have decided to accept the opportunity presented to us by Leigh Sports Village. The move has a lot of plusses for us. The stadium offers top amenities for players and supporters and the location will also allow us to promote the club to a different audience - there are 20,000 households known to have an affinity of BRFC within easy reach of the complex. The facility has good motorway links and is within good travelling time of Ewood Park."

Leigh Sports Village will also house Leigh Centurions Rugby League Club and Leigh Genesis FC, the non-league club currently managed by former Rovers' skipper Garry Flitcroft.

Andrew added: "However, while we are very excited by the prospect of playing there, we are also saddened to be leaving Morecambe FC with whom we have enjoyed a fantastic working relationship. The officials at Christie Park have been first class. They have always gone out of their way to help, but our long-term involvement had become a little uncertain due to Morecambe FC's pending re-location to a new stadium.

"We would like to record our sincere thanks - we have a true football friend in Morecambe FC and we are sure we will stay in close contact in the years to come."

Morecambe secretary Neil Marsdin said: "There have been many positives for both clubs from the partnership. It has helped us in financial terms (an important income stream) and has also allowed us to develop friendships with visiting Premier League reserve teams and showcase Christie Park. This has helped to attract teams for pre-season fixtures and generally raise the profile of the club.

"The ground-share has given football fans in our region in general the opportunity to see some of the Premier League stars, with Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton and Manchester City, regular visitors. However, now is the time for us to move forward to our new ground and for Blackburn to develop a new relationship at their future reserve team home.

"We will remain in contact and it is hoped that Rovers will play an important role during the opening period of our new ground next summer. On behalf of Morecambe FC, I wish to place on record our thanks for the opportunity and wish Blackburn all the very best for the future"

· For the record, Rovers Reserves first game at Christie Park was against an Aston Villa side including David Ginola on November 20^th 2000. James Thomas scored Rovers' goal in a 1-1 draw