NICK FALDO is banking on the support of rank and file club members to secure him a leasing deal, with Ballyliffin GC.

His offer, which was turned down by the club council on November 25th, is to be put before the members at an extraordinary general meeting next Sunday.

By way of emphasising his faith in the members, Faldo, had a fax sent to the club council at the weekend, urging that they be given the opportunity of discussing the matter. The Faldo proposals had already been circulated to them and, from an EGM two weeks ago, the council accept that the members want to hear more.

The reigning US Masters champion is seeking a 33 year management lease which will give him control over the commercial activities of the club. In return, he will wipe out their current overdraft of £600,000, build them a new clubhouse and generally up grade the 36 hole facility, which has a stunning location on the Inishowen Peninsula.

After turning down the offer, the council decided that the club, which has 1,000 members, should explore means of financing these developments themselves. So, while keeping the door open on a possible deal with Faldo, they called an EGM for December 15th when fund raising proposals such as 10 year membership and levies were put to the members.

"The members voted down our proposals and it soon became obvious that they were more interested in discussing the Faldo option," said honorary secretary Karl O'Doherty yesterday. "In view of that reaction, we considered it appropriate to call another EGM at which the council will be seeking an endorsement of their original decision to reject the Faldo deal."