Hartlepool United chiefs could gain ownership of their football ground for free as part of efforts to regenerate the town.

The club had offered £300,000 several years ago, and then £50,000 after making investments, to Hartlepool Borough Council, which owns the Victoria Park ground, but both were turned down.

However, the council has now said it will now consider gifting the club the ground as part of wider proposals to boost regeneration.

The club would have to commit to remaining in the Mill House area of Hartlepool and the authority would have to have first option on any future resale.

The council hopes the transfer of land would be first move in a major economic regeneration of the area, in partnership with local construction firm Gus Robinson, which would include the club building a new stand.

Student accommodation and new housing – as well as refurbished and new leisure facilities – would also be included in the scheme.

The previous bids from the football club included not only the land the ground is situated on but extra land to the north of Victoria Park.

That land would not be given to the club in this deal and could be used to build houses.

The authority would have to take into account the loss of rent from the club, which The Northern Echo understands is about £18,000 a year.

Stuart Drummond, Mayor of Hartlepool and fan of the club, said he hoped councillors would approve the transfer in cabinet next week and full council in April.

He said: “In the past, this has been looked at solely as a cash transaction but this is much, much more than that.

“I believe it buys the club’s commitment to the area and it is just a part of a much bigger regeneration master plan.”

He added: “In the past, I have had letters from people worried that selling the club would mean new owners would do a Wrexham or a York City and sell the ground to a supermarket. But this would tie the club long-term to the town and that area of our town.”

Hartlepool United Football Club had no comment to make last night.

The authority and football club has conducted a joint study which shows the club generates about £5m for the town’s economy, as well as employing 310 staff.

Hartlepool United is effectively subsidised by owners Increased Oil Recovery by about £1m a year despite attendances rising by 72 per cent thanks to a favourable season ticket deal.