The long-term viability of Kenilworth Wardens will be assessed before the district council parts with any more money to finance the sports club's move to Castle Farm.

Warwick District Council's cabinet yesterday approved a further £300,000 in forward-funding for the relocation project, taking the authority's contributions to the scheme over £1million.

And with the council only getting its money back from the sale of the club's current Glasshouse Lane ground, councillors were warned that the project could be a major financial risk.

Speaking on behalf of the overview and scrutiny committee, Cllr Andrew Milton told cabinet: "The O&S committee recommend that the cabinet fully understand all the scenarios including project overspend and that the resources PAB should review the business case prior to any disbursement."

He added: "There are consequences if the project has gone significantly overspend, because that money will need to be recovered from somewhere and someone and I am not entirely sure that the council has worked through those consequences, and they could become consequences for the club itself."

Cllr Alan Boad also warned that with the money only being reclaimed from the sale of the land, there was a chance it would never be reimbursed if the Wardens never moved.

"With all this risk, what happens if it does not go ahead," he said.

"When are you ever going to get the money back - the answer is you're not."

But Cllr Richard Hales advised cabinet members that a change of leadership at the club had put it on a much sounder financial footing, meaning there was less risk in providing more money.

"They have changed the way that they are run. I know they have shown a deficit in previous years but this year I think they will be in profit," he said.

"It is a project that we are going to have to shoulder as a council. 

"I think it is a credit to this council the number of projects compared to other local councils that we deliver and we bring forward for the greater good of the community."

He added: "There is desire from the Wardens to move because at the moment they have children playing all over the district and they want to come back to become a community facility which has been the drive behind the move."

While councillors unanimously approved the extra £300,000 forward-funding it was agreed that the cost of the move and the long-term business plan for the club would be evaluated before the money was released.

Deputy chief executive Andrew Jones gave his assurances that he would make sure the matter was fully considered. 

"We were taken aback by the enormous increase in costs for the Kenilworth leisure project and we don't want to be stung with that sort of thing again," he said.