MARGATE'S return to Hartsdown Park is a step nearer following agreement between the club and Thanet District Council.

It followed a meeting on Tuesday when both parties issued a joint statement confirming the current lease will be assigned to Hartsdown Development Company, and legal discussions to assign the lease will now begin.

This enables funding to be made available from the club's development partners, to allow the pitch to be reintstated to Conference South standard in time for the start of next season. Stands and terraces will also be erected.

However, this latest announcement does not commit either side to commercial development at Hartsdown Park. The council has repeated their view that they need further information, and that any further negotiations will require "a robust business plan, and a project plan".

Acting club chairman Colin Page said: "There is now nothing standing in the way of returning to our home ground in time for the new season. We know this will delight our loyal fans, who want nothing more than to see football back at Margate."

Leader of the council Sandy Ezekiel added: "We will be keeping local residents and supporters fully informed of the progress in bringing the club back to the town."

It is three years since Margate last hosted a game on the ground. Since then they have ground-shared with Dover and now Ashford, but the Football Conference have already said they will not allow that arrangement to continue next season.

The 2005/6 Conference season is due to start on August 6, a week earlier than usual.