Offer to buy football club ground is accepted

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

After the meeting, the authority confirmed it intended to put in an offer for the site and yesterday a council spokeswoman said: "We have had the offer accepted by the administrators."

Senior councillors backed the move to buy the ground as they wanted to ensure the ground was maintained for community use.

It is not known how much the authority will pay to buy the ground.

But a report to the part of Wednesday's meeting held in public said acquiring the Throstle Nest ground directly from the administrators was the "most appropriate means of securing the future of the site for the benefit of football in West Leeds".

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, who were formed in 1908 by a group of villagers, have 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.