Official documents lodged with Companies House suggest Abbey Stadium could be sold if the owners do not pay back a loan they have taken from property development company

The listing on the official government site for Gaming International which owns the stadium in Lady Lane, St Andrews includes a “certificate of the registration of a charge”.

It says that Gaming International and Legal and General Affordable Homes (development) Ltd have agreed a sale, if Gaming International default on their debt.

The actual form of words is: “The Chargor (Gaming International)  has contracted to sell the mortgaged property to the charge (Legal & General Affordable Homes).

“The parties have agreed that the deposit to be paid by the chargee to the chargor be released to the chargor as agent.

“It is a condition of the release of the deposit that the charger provides security in respect of the secured liabilities.”

The documents were filed in May 2024.

According to the government website Gov.uk: “A ‘charge’ is the security a company gives for a loan. For example, a mortgage is a type of charge.”

The stadium is part of the security Gaming International has put up for the loan from the housebuilder.

The Local Democracy Reporter has contacted Gaming International, which is still in residence at the stadium, but it has not responded to queries over the matter.

Similarly, emails and calls to Legal & General have not yet been answered.

The suggestion that the stadium, which is nearing the completion of a long-awaited rebuild, might be sold for housing has caused dismay and even fury on social media.

The MP for Swindon North, Justin Tomlinson, who is a candidate in the general election said: “This should be blocked. The land is designated for leisure and SBC should not allow a change.”

He added: “There has always been cross-party support for keeping Speedway. Right from the 06/08 campaign everyone has wanted the same. This is a leisure site, not housing - so no, we don't want housing.”

Leader of the council Jim Robbins said: “We have officers looking into this and trying to determine exactly what has happened.”

He added: “We don’t have any intention of changing the use of the site. It is zoned for leisure use and there is no interest in the administration of the council in changing that zoning use to housing.”