Oxford United fans are challenging election candidates to give a clear signal that they support the club's stadium and leisure centre deal, writes John Chipperfield.

Representatives of all political parties standing in the city council elections on May 6 are being invited to a public meeting to 'nail their colours to the mast'.

The city council's ruling Labour group is backing the deal which would see United's half-built stadium at Minchery Farm completed by January 1, 2000. In return, United's new owner Firoz Kassam would receive land next to the stadium for a leisure development, including a hotel, multiplex cinema and bowling alley. The council would then take a 20 per cent stake in a company set up to run and manage the stadium.

Steve Hanks, chairman of pressure group FOUL (Fighting for Oxford United's Life), which has called the meeting, said: "We believe that all parties should nail their colours to the mast before and not after the local elections. We will ask them for direct answers on what they will and will not support. This will be an opportunity for people to decide who can deliver this much-needed project. "The consultation period has clearly indicated that there is a strong desire for the leisure facilities and multiplex to go ahead.

"What we are asking now is for the whole city council to back it, not just the ruling Labour party."

FOUL originally planned to field its own election candidates but later abandoned the idea.

The meeting will be held at Oxford Town Hall on Tuesday, May 4, at 7.30pm.

Story date: Monday 26 April

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.