City throws Farsley Celtic a lifeline

Members of Leeds City Council's executive board met yesterday to discuss the issue, with much of the meeting held in private as details of the offer were discussed.

Later a council spokeswoman said: "The council's executive board has agreed to make an offer to purchase Farsley Celtic from the administrators."

It is not known how much the authority will offer to buy the ground but a report to the part of the meeting held in public said acquiring the Throstle Nest site directly from the administrator was: "the most appropriate means of securing the future of the site for the benefit of football in West Leeds."

However, the report considered by members says the administrators have received other offers for the site.

A report said: "In order to allow the administrator to assess the way forward regarding the sale of the site, the council needs to determine whether it wishes to support the administrator's preferred bidder... or consider the acquisition of the site directly as the most appropriate means of securing the use of the ground for football uses over the long-term."

Supporters have been calling for an end to uncertainty over the club's future since it went into administration last summer.

The club resigned from the Blue Square North League last month and consequently the administrator put the club's ground up for sale.

Farsley Celtic, which was formed in 1908 by a group of villagers, has produced several well-known footballers, including Leeds United legend Paul Madeley and Micah Richards, now with Manchester City, as well as Scottish international Stuart McCall.