OXFORD United supporters have won the right to mount their own bid to buy the Kassam Stadium if it goes up for sale.

OxVox, the independent Oxford United supporters’ trust, last night announced its bid to have the stadium listed as a “community asset” had been successful.

The idea was given the go-ahead by Oxford City Council and is the first of its kind to be made under the Localism Act 2011.

Now, if owner Firoz Kassam wants to sell the stadium, he will have to inform supporters and give them a six-month moratorium so they can mount their own bid.

OxVox patron and Oxford East Labour MP Andrew Smith said: “This is a huge credit to those at OxVox who have led the way in this being the first football stadium in the country to be listed as a community asset.

“This gives the supporters the right to be informed and the right to bid if the stadium is put up for sale and helps secure its future for Oxford United. Its significance is clear from the fact that supporters at Manchester United and Liverpool are already looking to follow where Oxford has led the way.”

Fan Mark Lambourne, 28, from Blackbird Leys, who runs the Yellows Forum website, said: “I think this is a major step forward. By delaying any offers from a third party, this will allow the club to pull together the funding to buy the stadium.

“A brilliant move from OxVox which will raise eyebrows from other sport organisations both in Oxfordshire and nationally who are in a similar position to us.”

Mr Kassam was not available for comment.

The bid was supported by communities minister and Bath Lib Dem MP Don Foster.

Mr Foster said: “For too long communities have been shut out, forced to watch from the sidelines as treasured local assets, vital to people’s daily lives, have been shut down and sold on.

“Thanks to our new rights, communities can now decide what’s important to them and ‘stop the clock’ on sales so they have the time to get together a bid.

“It’s good to see Oxford’s fans united in exercising their right to protect their stadium.”

Oxford City Council spokesman Louisa Dean said: “The Kassam Stadium is now an Asset of Community Value after OxVox nominated it.

“The council has considered their arguments for making it an asset, which now means that if the owner ever wishes to sell it, then they have to inform the council in the first instance.

“This listing is part of the localism act, national government guidelines, which aims to give the community the chance to try to buy local facilities such as shops and pubs that are about to close.”

It comes as plans to turn Oxford Greyhound Stadium into a ‘heritage asset’ using different legislation are being considered.

The city council has applied to the Heritage Assets Register Review Panel for the Blackbird Leys area, which will make a decision soon.

Heritage asset status can protect facilities from development.