WINCHESTER City Football Club has saved its season thanks to the city council.

The club’s future was in doubt after owner Paul McCarthy last month revealed it was at least £8,000 in debt and he was looking to step aside.

The council has agreed to let the club play out this season’s remaining games at the council-owned Denplan City Ground, before renegotiating the lease for next season.

It was handed back control of the ground by the previous leaseholder, believed to be Mr McCarthy.

Council leader Keith Wood said power would be restored to the ground after electricity was cut off last month due to unpaid bills, forcing an on-site nursery to relocate to Winchester Rugby Club.

He said: “We have been monitoring the situation at Winchester Football Club closely and in view of the problems they have had I am pleased to say that the leaseholders have decided to hand back possession of the ground to the city council.

“This enables us to take swift action to restore power to the site, allowing the club to finish the season and the nursery to use the premises again. We are particularly concerned to ensure the nursery, on which many local parents depend, can reopen for the new term and this should now be possible.”

The council is owed £22,000 by the previous leaseholder but are not dealing with any other outstanding club debts.

Dave Malone, who has been leading a takeover bid, said the plan was to restructure WCFC into a members’ club.

A supporters’ meeting last night reformed the club as Winchester City Community Football Club.

Supporters also elected an interim committee and adopted a new constitution, with former Eastleigh Football Club chairman Paul Murray elected to the same role at Winchester, and Mr Malone becoming director of football.

Mr Malone, who financed the club during its 2004 FA Vase triumph, said: “We are more than happy with this arrangement and we thank the MP Steve Brine for helping to negotiate this with the council.

“My major concern was to make sure the club could fulfil its fixtures while we regroup and it’s very good news that can happen. We see the way forward now as a community club and we have plans that will hopefully get everyone involved.”

He added he hoped the electricity would be reconnected by this Saturday (April 13) so the team can play Bridgwater Town, which will be free entry to all. Mr Brine said: “A successful football club is very much in Winchester’s interests, socially and economically.

“This deal was only possible because the city council stepped up to the spot when we knocked on their door last week, and they deserve huge credit for that.

“There is a long way to go but the ambition here is clear: to create a genuine community football club that gives all ages — boys and girls — the chance to play the beautiful game.

“This new start for Winchester City could just be the start of something very exciting indeed.”

The club are appealing for volunteers to help prepare the ground for Saturday's (April 13) match against Bridgwater Town, which is free entry to all.

Work begins at 9am on Friday and Saturday and anyone is welcome but asked to bring cleaning products with them.