THE future of a council-run leisure centre could be decided soon, after more than two years of negotiations.

The Spectrum Leisure Complex, in Willington, is run with a restricted service by Wear Valley District Council, but a community group has been bidding to take it over.

The Slam (Spectrum Leisure and Management) trust first announced its plans in 2004 to take over the lease of the building.

Now, after months of deliberation, both parties say a deal is getting closer and a hand-over could be imminent.

Ian Hirst, who is heading the trust, said that legal teams were ironing out the final details before the deal was completed.

"We've got a couple of very important meetings looming. If we can secure what we hope to secure, that'll be the end of the road and we can decide what to do next.

"We'll then decide whether to close it and renovate it, or to refurbish it."

In its 1980s heyday, the centre welcomed the likes of footballer Emlyn Hughes, rugby star Bill Beaumont and Austrian skier Franz Klammer.

It is now open for only 14 hours a week, but the trust's long-term plans include a large sports hall, a new dry ski slope, two new gyms and a mini-cinema.

Mr Hirst has won several accolades for his basketball coaching, and was nominated for one of The Northern Echo's Local Heroes awards last year.

He said: "My name is synonymous with basketball so the rumour factory is saying it's going to be a basketball court. It's not.

"It will have a basketball court, the same as every other leisure centre, but it will also have five-a-side football and other facilities.

"If things go according to plan, there will be a few sharp intakes of breath from a lot of people."

Andrew Frankcom, Wear Valley District Council's head of community culture services, said he had heard several rumours about the future of the site over the past months.

But he said that, although a deal had yet to be agreed, talks were progressing.