FANS of Worcester City feel hopeful after significant progress has been made on plans to develop the club off the pitch.

A full planning application for the mooted Worcestershire Community Sports Park, set to be the club's first permanent home since 2013, will be submitted later in the year. 

This latest development was confirmed by the club's owner Simon Lancaster in an end-of-season statement to fans. 

The new sports zone would connect Fernhill Heath and Hindlip. 

The club, who were playing their home fixtures away from the city for around a decade, currently ply their trade at Claines Lane.

Lancaster said his long-term plan was for City to own its home ground for the first time since they left St George’s Lane 11 years ago.

The ensuing years left the club having to face spells playing in Bromsgrove and Kidderminster and three relegations in 2017 due to their financial woes. 

The first details of the Worcestershire Community Sports Park were revealed back in February. 

Lancaster added he had spent the last few months consulting with all the relevant stakeholders, including a public consultation. 

The plans are now being amended and finalised ready for the planning bid to be submitted. 

City, managed by Chris Cornes, have just enjoyed their best season in a generation, winning the Hellenic League Premier Division and gaining promotion. 

They also came one game away from reaching Wembley in the FA Vase, lifted the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup and reached the Marsh Challenge Cup final. 

City fans took to social media to share their excitement at the state of the club a year on from Simon Lancaster taking over. 

Nigel Upson said he felt the club was in good hands, while fellow fan Stojan Vasijevic said he felt whereas a year ago supporters had a football team, they now had a football club and hope. 

And Bill Timson said it was great to see the team he had supported since he was ten years old on the up again.