MIDDLESBROUGH Football Club have "isolated" themselves from the village they made themselves part of, according to residents.

Last week, Middlesbrough were given permission to build a multi-million pound golf and leisure complex in Hurworth, near Darlington.

The club have also trained in the village since 1999, when their £7m training ground opened.

But Hurworth residents claim the club have consistently refused requests to put something back into village life.

One parish councillor said the club was "bottom of the league" in villagers' opinion.

The residents' wish list includes road improvements, funding for the Hurworth Grange Community Centre, and open days for local football teams at the training ground.

Parish councillor George Lawman said: "We want improvements in the community, and improvements on the roads. We want them to contribute to the community centre, and support the youth club.

"These are all things they should do. As far as we're concerned, they are bottom of the league."

Alan Gibson, a parish councillor for 31 years, said the village had supported the football club, and was now owed something.

"Most of the village has gone along with their aspirations, and it would be nice to see something come back," he said.

Martin Swainston, who represents Hurworth at Darlington Borough Council, said: "One of the first things would be to open a dialogue with the ward councillors, and the parish."

When Darlington Borough Council approved the golf complex, it was hoped improvements to the pavilion of nearby Rockliffe Park Cricket Club would be made as one of the conditions.

The agreement could not be made, though, as the cricket club does not own the pavilion.

Julie Jones, treasurer of the cricket club, said: "Maybe as a gesture of goodwill we can come to an agreement."

Middlesbrough Football Club were contacted but did not respond.