SWINDON Town today confirmed an agreement with Swindon Borough Council to jointly purchase the freehold of the County Ground with Swindon Town Supporters’ Trust.

Subject to cabinet approval, the football club and the Trust will purchase the site’s freehold for £2.2million.

Coun David Renard, leader of Swindon Borough Council, confirmed a vote on the purchase – which he expects to receive full approval from his colleagues – will be made on Wednesday, March 20.

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The news broke 13 months after both the football club and the Trust continued with their individual efforts to purchase the ground’s freehold themselves.

Two years ago, the Trust had a £1.1million offer rejected by the council. Similarly, the council rejected an offer from the football club at the start of last year before both parties confirmed their ambition to jointly purchase the site in August.

Those ambitions have now become a reality, and Town chairman Lee Power said he is exciting by the unique opportunity that has presented itself to the football club.

He added: “The benefits to the football club are huge, it’s probably come at the right time.

“(With ownership) It (the County Ground) becomes a seven-day-a-week venue that receives significant income that helps on the football side.

“This football club has never had that – this gives us a fantastic opportunity as a football club to get some extra revenue in, make the stadium modern and more welcoming.

“We’ll work with Steve Mytton (Trust chairman) and the supporters to make it a home they can be proud of.”

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Some supporters of the club have in recent weeks voiced their optimism with regards to the club’s future.

Several on-pitch blows – including defeat in the 2015 League One play-off final and relegation to the Football League’s lowest tier in 2017 – has frustrated fans since Power’s arrival at the club in April 2013 as a part-owner.

But the appointment of new first-team manager Richie Wellens in November has sparked life onto the terraces, with Town now chasing promotion back into League One via the play-off system.

Power added the agreement to share the County Ground’s freehold can add to the slight feel-good injection fans have been granted in recent weeks.

“I think this can have a positive knock-on effect to on-pitch matters,” said Power.

“If we can make the place a bit more attractive to families and create a bit more of a buzz around the place, naturally the ground will fill.

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“We’ve got a great supporter base – the football has been in the doldrums for the last couple of years.

“Hopefully this will give everyone that little injection to want to come back and grab that spirit again. It’s an exciting time for everyone to move forward.

“It’s all possible from the council, and everyone needs to be aware of that. They’ve been the key player in this.

“At this stage, they are the ones that need to take the plaudits.”