SWINDON Town Supporters’ Trust chairman Steve Mytton has marked the agreement by Swindon Borough Council to sell the County Ground’s freehold as a milestone moment for the football club and its fans.

Councillors approved the move to sell the County Ground’s freehold to Swindon Town Football Club and Swindon Town Supporters – represented by Trust STFC – on Wednesday night, providing both parties can raise the agreed £2.2million asking price.

The Supporters’ Trust must raise 50 per cent of the £2.2m total, plus extra to cover additional costs relating to the purchase.

The Trust will raise funds to reach that figure by offering community shares valued at £19.69 each – a figure in honour of the club’s greatest achievement when lifting the League Cup in 1969.

A total of 2,300 fans are required to buy a share in order for the Trust to meet the requirements of a community focused acquisition.

Mr Mytton said: “It’s great news. We still have to await the outcome of the Council Scrutiny Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 26, but all the signs are good right now.

“The discussions around the County Ground have been ongoing for four years, so it’s a real big milestone moment.

“Assuming we get the final approval, we’re looking forward to talking to supporters in the coming weeks about the next steps.

“There are a number of legal documents we need to work through with various parties and then we’ll be able to firm up the Community Share offering and release details to our fellow supporters.”

A potential purchase of the site’s freehold was first revealed on March 5 at a press conference hosted at the County Ground and attended by Swindon Town chairman Lee Power, Coun David Renard, leader of Swindon Borough Council, and Mr Mytton.

In essence, the Council’s decision to sell the County Ground means the freehold could change hands later this year. However, opposition councillors will have a chance to probe the cabinet’s vote on March 26 at a committee meeting.

“This is hopefully the start of a new positive era for the fans, and we will sit down with representatives of other groups like the official Supporters’ Club and the Disabled Supporters’ Club to make sure everyone is represented,” said Mr Mytton.

“I’d like to thank once again all the fans that donated into our Red Army Fund – it’s given us the chance to do something special and it’s a very exciting time for everyone associated with our football club.”