Rovers caused an outcry last year when they asked for planning permission to build on the land, which is home to a monument to 88 former pupils of Birkenhead Institute who lost their lives in the Great War.

Tranmere withdrew their application under a barrage of protest in February, but the Trust – which is independent from the club – argued the proposals should be given a more sympathetic hearing if they are re-submitted at a later date.

Here, the principal opponent to the scheme, Dean Johnson, explains the position of those against the plans.

TRANMERE Rovers Trust seems to want to ignore the documented history of the Ingleborough Road Memorial Playing Fields and put their own spin on things.

They do not explain why the application was withdrawn and what has changed since.

The trust has no power over TRFC's affairs; they are just “fans”'.

How could they deliver the Woodchurch development and enter into a legally binding agreement that the Planning Office requires?

When I met the Trust in January, they were ignorant of most of the facts, and had not even read the heritage statement supplied by TRFC to support their application.

I suggested that we call a meeting of the Tranmere Hall Estate residents to get a new vote on the plans, but instead the Trust set up a meeting with a councillor who is a known TRFC supporter who had attended many complimentary games.

That was fine, but they refused my request to bring along a councillor who was against the development.

They lost all credibility with me then. I turned my attention to discussions with club owner Mr Peter Johnson.

I canvassed the residents that live around the field, and the majority were against the plans, as were the Woodchurch residents, who were going to lose more amenities than they would gain.

Throughout my campaign, I was the subject of personal abuse from the forum on the Trust’s website.

When TRFC submitted the plans last year, most of the public were unaware of the true nature of the Memorial Playing Fields.

Following local media coverage, people now are more enlightened of the facts.

The proposed desecration of a war memorial was eventually very unpopular with the general public and if attempted again would be a public relations disaster.

Wirral Council has since adopted a heritage strategy to deal with situations such as this and I have formed the Ingleborough Road Memorial Field Preservation Society, which pledges to honour the memory of 88 fallen WWI heroes remembered at this field by preserving it as was intended; for future generations to enjoy and commemorate the price that was paid…the ultimate sacrifice.

I believe the space celebrates the memory of the fallen on a giant, monumental scale.

The provision of a small memorial garden could not match the grandeur of scale of the historic monument, paid for by public subscription.

Any plans would have to reflect these considerations and the feelings of the public and the families of the men and women lost in active service today.

Will they be disrespected in the same way in 100 years’ time?

I am pleased that the Trust has highlighted the deplorable state of the memorial plaque. Perhaps they could use some of the money pledged to them to restore it to its former glory?

The trust wish to become a “community ”club: they should start by honouring the members of the community who paid the ultimate sacrifice a century ago.

As far as easy money goes, those fields are No Man’s Land.