Trustees overseeing Bath’s Recreation Ground are set to appeal against a decision by a Government watchdog body not to allow expansion by Bath Rugby at the site.

The club wants approval for a 15,000-seater stadium at the Rec in order to shore up its financial future at the green lung.

But the Charity Commission which has the final say over the land, announced earlier this month that it could not support the most recent proposal submitted after negotiations between Bath Rugby and the Rec Trustees.

The trustees - three local councillors - are now considering requesting a review of the commission’s decision which would see a new set of officials within the organisation to give their verdict on the proposals.

Trustee chair Cllr Chris Watt told a meeting at the Guildhall today that this was the preferred option as opposed to doing nothing or submitting a set of revised proposals.

Cllr Watt said: “The trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s response and we are considering the basis upon which the commission have come to their assessment.

“We are not convinced that the way in it calculated the detriments was fair or reasonable.”

The commission has to weigh up whether changes to the status quo at the site cause “detriment” to his charitable status.

Bath Rugby chief executive Bob Calleja reiterated the club’s position following the news of the commission’s decision at the meeting.

Mr Calleja said the club would participate and co-operate fully with the trustees to reach a solution.

The trustees have until April 19 to respond to the commission and are due to hold another meeting in March to discuss the budget for the Rec for the year ahead.

Campaigners fighting against the expansion of Bath Rugby yesterday pledged to mount a legal challenge against all existing leases.

Worthy Gilson, chair of pressure group Friends of the Rec, said the trustees were guilty of a ‘deviant abuse of power’ and ‘breaches of contract’.

Meanwhile, a 3,500-strong pressure group fighting for the new sports stadium has appointed its first leaders.

The Real Friends of the Rec organisation was set up late last year with the aim of backing Bath Rugby's aspirations to build a new arena on the green lung.

Tomorrow night, it holds its first formal general meeting, at which the latest developments in the saga of development at The Rec will be discussed.

Its chairman will be founder Peter Downey, who was the driving force behind a £1.5 million fundraising drive to fund what is now the Hamptons Stand.

President will be retired businessman David Medlock, while Mr Downey's deputy is fellow founder Richard Wright.

The inaugural meeting is tomorrow at 7.30pm at Bath Golf Club in North Road.

As things stand, Bath Rugby will not be able to use its temporary stand next season.

The Friends group has had a message of support from the city's tourism chief Robin Bishert.

The chief executive of Bath Tourism Plus said: "The presence of the club in the heart of the city delivers considerable benefits to local tourism and the wider city economy, and we believe that any move out of town could potentially have a detrimental impact on that contribution. Bath Rugby (forms) an integral part of our marketing of Bath and the surrounding area. Views of the ground…are beamed into homes and venues nationwide through TV coverage of home fixtures – valuable free advertising for the destination."

The group's website is www.realfriendsoftherec.co.uk