Hatters given stadium boost

Luton Town have moved a step forward in their long-standing plans to move home.

The Hatters have been angling for a move away from Kenilworth Road for a number of years and Thursday's announcement will go some way to appeasing the club's fans and manager Mike Newell, who has previously voiced his frustration at a lack of progress.

Having already appointed architects for the project, the Championship strugglers have now announced that Rosemound Development Ltd have clinched a deal with Cliff Bassett who owns the 250-acre site at Old Park Farm, near Junction 12 of the M1.

The agreement will provide £25million towards the funding of the new stadium which still requires planning permission before construction can begin.

The local authorities will now be involved in a process of public consultation regarding the plans, and Hatters chairman Bill Tomlins has welcomed the news which gives fresh hope to the club's dreams of leaving the outdated Kenilworth Road.

"The board is pleased that this agreement has now been signed," Tomlins told the club's official website.

"Our agreement with Cliff Bassett, coupled with his agreement with Rosemound, will at least enable the club to focus on its intended move away from Kenilworth Road.

"The opportunity to relocate to a new purpose-built state of the art stadium with high quality facilities and amenities will not only fully serve the needs of the club and its supporters, but importantly the local community."

Meanwhile, Luton have taken former Chelsea trainee Nikos Salapatas on trial.

The midfielder has most recently been playing at Olympiakos and has been joined at Kenilworth Road by Sheku Kamara following his release from local rivals Watford.