OXFORD Stadium’s potential saviours say they have renewed confidence for the greyhound racetrack after a similar stadium in Manchester was sold for £2.6m as a going concern.

The Belle Vue stadium in Manchester was owned by Risk Capital Partners, which in turn owns the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA).

Risk Capital Partners also owns Oxford’s Sandy Lane stadium, and campaigners hope the Manchester deal increases the chances of a similar decision here.

Friend of football manager Harry Redknapp, Nick Budimir, who has been working with Steventon farmer Robert Tyrrell to buy the stadium, said: “This can only be seen as good news for our plans to return the stadium as a multi leisure complex to the people of Oxfordshire.”

Property developer Galliard Homes had plans to build 220 homes rejected by Oxford City Council in January. It took the issue to a planning appeal and a final decision will be made in June. The stadium closed in 2012 after the GRA said it could not be run as a profitable business.

But GRA’s managing director Clive Feltham has now told the Racing Post: “All our tracks are doing well.”