Chelsea close in on deal for AFC Wimbledon ground

The deal will raise funds for the League Two club's proposed move to a new stadium at their original home of Merton.

The Blues want to use the Cherry Red Records Stadium to host their youth and ladies' matches.

At a special general meeting on Monday night the Dons Trust, the largest shareholder of AFC Wimbledon, voted overwhelmingly in favour of selling the stadium lease.

The next stage of the process will be for AFC Wimbledon PLC shareholders to pass a similar resolution in December, although that should be a formality as the Dons Trust controls over 90 per cent of the shares.

Dons Trust chairman Matthew Breach told the Trust's website: " The successful vote on the stadium sale is an important milestone in helping to return AFC Wimbledon to its spiritual home in Merton

"On behalf of the Dons Trust board, I would like to thank our members for voting in such large numbers and for backing our proposals so unambiguously

"There is still a lot of work to do to deliver a new stadium but the outcome of the vote shows the overwhelming support among Trust members and the club's fans for having AFC Wimbledon play where it belongs, back in Merton."

AFC Wimbledon bought the lease on the ground from non-league Kingstonian FC in 2003

The club, formed after the original Wimbledon relocated to Milton Keynes and became MK Dons, plan to build a new stadium where the old club used to play at Plough Lane.

Source : PA

Source: PA