IT was only a start, but supporters of Worcester City's bid to move to a 21st Century stadium must feel as if they've just safely negotiated the opening 20 minutes of the most crucial game in the club's history.

After a long debate, 11 members of the city council's planning committee decided the £6m project was compelling enough to let experts start studying it in detail. Just two councillors abstained.

Though the same people are free to change their minds and votes in future, the vital thing now is that the club has an opportunity to prove what it believes - that the move, and the B&Q development paying for it, will leave the Faithful City significantly better off than if the club stays at St George's Lane.

If that's the first 20 minutes behind them, then, there's still the equivalent of another 25 minutes to go before the project arrives with the full council on Tuesday, December 11.

To be in with a shout of turning out for the remainder of the 90 minutes - and a meeting with the Secretary of State - much hard work and persuasive talking must now take place.

We hope the spirit of yesterday's debate runs through all those conversations, those firmly for the project as it is, those who still need convincing, those firmly against.

On Wednesday, we asked councillors to keep in mind a picture of Worcester in 20 years, and decide whether a thriving, community-based soccer club, in a majestic stadium made possible by imaginative political thinking, is what we want.

There are tough questions requiring big decisions ahead but, on balance, we're convinced it is.

We hope sufficient people are also convinced of the fact, come December 11, for it to take another step forward.