Future of AFC Telford is secure

THE FUTURE of AFC Telford United will be secured for "generations to come" in a historic deal to be sealed and delivered to football club bosses tomorrow.

Telford & Wrekin Council leader Andrew Eade will hand over a 150-year ground lease to the New Bucks Head club before kick-off - preserving its future until 2160.

The former Telford United club used to hold a 999-year lease on the ground - however that was seized by the Bank of Scotland in 2004 after it collapsed.

AFC Telford United was formed from the ashes and the council bought the lease and gave it to the club for 20 years, so allowing the club to take its place in the then Unibond Northern Premier League Division One.

The extended lease will see the club shell out just a peppercorn rent for the ground to its council owners into the next century.

United chairman Lee Carter said the deal was "fantastic" news and the biggest shot in the arm for the club since it was resurrected in 2004.

Lease

Tomorrow's game marks new manager Andy Sinton's first competitive game in charge.

The new lease, agreed in January, will strengthen the partnership between the council and United and it includes the learning centre at the ground and associated car parking.

Council spokesman Russell Griffin said: "The lease agreement recognises the football club as a key partner in supporting the community and will enable the club to continue to grow and develop a number of football, educational and health partnership programmes."

The initiative is the first of many being worked on by both the council and football club in an effort to expand opportunities for the whole community, as well as the Bucks.

Mr Carter said: "Everyone connected with AFC Telford United is delighted that the council has agreed to further strengthen its partnership with the football club and sign this lease, which safeguards the club's future for generations.

"We feel we are making fantastic progress as a football club and are getting solid foundations in place to support our ambitions to get promotion to the Blue Square Conference and ultimately the Football League."

By Simon Hardy