BASINGSTOKE Town Football Club (BTFC) fans are urging Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) to buy the land the team plays on to help it become a community-run club.

At a Community, Environment and Partnerships Committee meeting in the council offices on May 31, David Partridge, speaking on behalf of the “frustrated fans of the club”, asked the council to consider purchasing the Camrose, where the club plays it home games, from the club’s owner Rafi Razzak.

Councillor Rob Golding, chair of the committee, said the council would consider proposals and discuss them at a later meeting in July.

Doubts had been raised about where the club would be playing its football in August after the Mr Razzak announced he would be ending his support of the club.

Mr Razzak, associated with the club for 25 years, said the club would have to find a new home due to issues surrounding planning permission at the Camrose, the home of BTFC.

Farnborough Football Club’s Rushmoor Community Stadium was earmarked as a groundshare option for BTFC – despite being nearly a 40-mile round trip for fans. But last month, it was agreed the club would stay at the ground, but Mr Razzak still wanted back money owed to him in loans.

Mr Partridge said: “Mr Razzak owns our club, our stadium and the land on which it stands, so we think, and despite attending the fans forum on May 23, he has refused to explain how it’s come about. Our future lies in a new set up. He has stated his desire to leave and we agree with this.”

Mr Partridge added: “We as supporters ask for help to work the community club model.”

He also asked for the council to “seriously look at a proposal to purchase the 71 per cent owned by Mr Razzak” to lease it back to the club.

Next month, the committee will look at a report compiled by an officer on BTFC.