ACCRINGTON Stanley is in talks to buy their Wham Stadium ground outright from the council.

Club bosses approached Hyndburn Council over whether they would be to purchase the stadium in Livingstone Road, Accrington, which it currently leases.

The council’s cabinet has agreed to give the club the option to buy the site.

Chairman Andy Holt said the club is looking into the price offer.

He said: “There’s no need for the council to own the land, it doesn’t make much sense.

“We’re just trying to develop the club to make it a good small community stadium.

“We want to try and make sure that it is a good local community asset this area can be proud of.

“We’re looking at the option to buy and we will consider it and talk about it before making a decision.”

An ‘arm’s length’ valuation has been agreed by the council for the ground which the club must decide whether to take up.

A covenant is on the land which states that it can only be used as a football ground.

Hyndburn Council leader, Cllr Miles Parkinson, said the club will remain at the heart of the community whatever happens.

He said: “Really it’s about making sure the club moves forward.

“It’s the aspirations of everyone at the club, the council and in the community that it has a positive future.”

He also said the price of the stadium will be released in the public domain in ‘normal time’.

Peter Leatham, chairman of the club’s official supporters group, said: “The most important thing for the club is that it is kept on the straight and narrow.

“It’s also key that it keeps playing an important role in the community.

“I’m not sure if this is really the number one priority at this moment in time, but it all depends on the price.”

The stadium was built in 1968 and has a capacity of 5,057, making it the smallest ground in the English football league.