THE stop-start sale of Evesham United's Common Road football ground has finally been completed.

Chairman Jim Cockerton said the final piece of the jigsaw is in place and contracts are expected to be signed in the next few weeks with developer Bloor Homes, which is buying the site.

Mr Cockerton said: "I am just so pleased to get this finally sorted out. It is a great relief for all of us, it has been dragging on so long."

As the sale progressed, Evesham quit their ground at the end of last season and this year played home games at Worcester City's St George's Lane ground.

Mr Cockerton said agreement had been reached to use the ground for next season as well.

"In the meantime, we would expect to be on site to start work on the new ground by the end of November," he said.

The new ground, which includes a 300-seater stand and covered areas behind the goals, will be built on a site off Cheltenham Road and is expected to cost more than £2 million.

Negotiations to sell the Common Road ground were delayed several times. Bloor Homes wanted to ensure it could get planning permission for a proposed housing development before going ahead.

Outline permission was finally granted by Wychavon District Council but only after the density of the housing had been reduced.

The latest hold-up is understood to have involved ownership of a parcel of land giving access to the site.

But Mr Cockerton said: "Everything has now been resolved and things are moving again. We want to get the team back to Evesham as soon as we can, although some of the fans have been incredible, following us to Worcester week after week."

He declined to disclose the price received for the land, although a portion will have to be paid to Wychavon District Council, which removed a covenant on the land to enable houses to be built on it.