STOCKPORT COUNTY SELL OFF EDGELEY PARK TO COUNCIL:

City’s Isobel Christiansen in action against Durham in the Blues’ Continental Cup win earlier this week STOCKPORT Council has completed the purchase of Edgeley Park from Cheshire Sports.

With Stockport County’s season due to begin at home to Boston next Saturday, contracts have been signed and all due diligence requirements finalised.

The council says it has bought the stadium for the benefit of the club and people of Stockport. It will now work with the Hatters to review the lease of the stadium.

Councillor Iain Roberts, deputy council leader, said: “This is a genuinely commercial arrangement which will enable a landlord-tenant relationship to be set up between the council and Stockport County Football Club. This purchase will not cost Stockport council tax payers a penny.”

It is believed the purchase, made because of a threat that developers would buy the ground and demolish it, is for around £2million.

Fans had submitted a 5,000 signature petition to the council urging town hall chiefs to do ‘everything they could’ to ensure County remained there.

Steve Bellis, County’s senior advisor to the Board of Directors, said: “The security and stability this gives the club cannot be underestimated.”