Oxford United chairman Firoz Kassam was today celebrating the removal of the last major hurdle in the club's long battle to finish the half-built stadium at Minchery Farm, writes Jon Murray.

And he believes building work at the ground could resume in weeks if the remaining smaller obstacles were removed.

Mr Kassam described the decision by developers Pentith to drop the challenge against United's multiplex cinema a vital part of the stadium scheme as "great news".

He said: "This is a big step forward. We can now look forward to getting the stadium completed." Mr Kassam is now hoping the other issues, including the covenant that brewer Morrells of Oxford is trying to invoke to stop alcohol sales at the new ground, will be speedily resolved so that work on the stadium can restart. He said: "We are looking to have the stadium finished in time for us to play there at the start of the 2001-2002 season."

The decision also pleased the United supporters' pressure group Fighting for Oxford United's Life (Foul), whose spokesman said: "It is a victory for common sense." Cheshire-based Pentith had argued that Oxford City Council had acted unfairly by rejecting its proposals for a leisure village, including a multiplex cinema, at Oxpens, while approving United's plans.

But at a meeting on Friday, Pentith agreed to drop its High Court action and work with the council on a revised leisure scheme for Oxpens, including a multiplex and possibly a concert hall.