Hundreds of Oxford United fans and city residents gave their backing to the new stadium plans at a public meeting last night, writes Nick Evans.

A crowd of fans and residents turned up at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre in Pegasus Road.

And the vast majority voiced their support for the sale of the land to the club's new owner Firoz Kassam, plus proposals for an adjoining hotel and leisure development.

Members of the audience who spoke in favour of the scheme were greeted with cheers and loud applause, while the few who spoke against were heckled and shouted down with cat-calls and whistling. Under the deal, Mr Kassam would provide the cash to complete the half-built Minchery Farm Stadium by January 1, 2000.

In return, he would receive land next to the stadium for a leisure development, including a hotel, multiplex cinema and bowling alley.

The council would then take a 20 per cent stake in a company set up to run and manage the stadium.

Oxford City Council leader John Tanner, who chaired the meeting, said: "Most of us on the city council think we have got the flesh on the bones of a good deal which will help the club and the city of Oxford and its leisure facilities. "There are still a number of knots to be tied, but I hope we sign on the dotted line with Mr Kassam - and the sooner the better.

"The idea of taking on Oxford United, with all its debts and a half-built stadium, is a pretty tall order and there are not many people like Mr Kassam who are prepared to do it."

Mr Kassam said: "Although there are still a few more obstacles to come across, especially the multiplex, I will keep my fingers crossed and I hope it all works out."

A second public meeting will be held at Peers School, Littlemore, on Tuesday at 7.30pm.

Story date: Saturday 17 April

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.