Awaiting news from the Chairman with regards to the proposed completion of Home Park in the summer, Plymouth Argyle confirmed in a press release that a deal had been outlined with the City Council to purchase the ground.
Coupled with record profits, this could mean that 2006 becomes an important year in the club's heritage. On the pitch, things are looking up, literally, with the Greens away from the drop-zone and seemingly edging their way into the top half of the Championship.
Despite a decent financial stance, the Mayflower grandstand remains as you were. Unless a bizarre end to the season sees Plymouth make the play-offs, the board are keen for the redevelopment to be finish this summer. So how far can this club go? The Chairman insists the all-mightiest of leaps to the "promised land" of the Premiership is realistically attainable.
They must now decide how to go about it. It appears that the board will opt to buy the freehold, for around £2.7 million, and encourage more lenders and investors that way. The board have made it clear that very comfortable finances will be needed to make a successful assualts on the promotion spaces and experiencing bigger things in the future.
As to whether this deal, which will finally release Argyle from a costly 125-year lease, will mean yet another delay in implementing Phase 2 of Home Park's refurbishment remains to be seen with no comment on the issue from the club.
"We discussed with the council the possibility of acquiring the freehold of the site - a move which would enable the club's lenders to assist with the future development of Home Park", said chairman Paul Stapleton. He stressed the need for this deal as it would be the better way to progress as a football club.
City Councillor Tudor Evans also commented. "It will free the club from the burden of a lease and will give it greater flexibility to raise funds". "It gives the club greater security and puts its destiny in its own hands. This proposal is a winner not only for the club and the council but for the city as a whole".
A potential stumbling block could be the views of the Conservative opposition in the city. Shadow leader Vivien Pengelly is leading the arguments against the deal, claiming that placing the land in private sector hands comes with several, undesirable risks. She posed the question "Are they trying to get this through before the local elections in May?" to the Western Morning News.