Ebbsfleet United has decided to let Gravesham council become its landlord, we can reveal.

Spurred on by the Messenger’s Let’s Club Together campaign, generous fans stumped up about £300,000 to help the club buy its ground.

But the figure is half of the £600,000 needed, so club bosses have decided to accept the council’s offer of becoming leaseholder of the Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, venue.

The Fleet is in the process of paying back all fans’ donations.

Chairman Duncan Holt said: "I want to thank everyone was been kind enough to donate money and the council for its support.

"Our future is looking brighter than it’s ever been. We have managed to secure the future of football at Stonebridge Road."

Gravesham council stepped in to secure the club’s history by buying the ground’s freehold in October, just days before it was due to go under the hammer at auction.

But the club negotiated a clause that it could buy the land itself if the necessary cash was raised by December.