WEYMOUTH Supporters Association chief Ade MacDonald has insisted any new stadium built for the Terras must benefit the community as well as the club.

Association chairman MacDonald was speaking after plans to build up to 170 houses on the Bob Lucas Stadium site were approved on the condition the club was relocated first.

The search is now on for a site where a new ground can be developed – club chairman Chris Pugsley revealed last week that two locations in Weymouth were being looked at.

Reacting to the latest development in a saga that has gone on for some time, MacDonald said: “We are obviously very pleased.

“It’s a giant step forward and hopefully this will facilitate developing a new ground.

“We are very keen that any new stadium needs to be a genuine community sports complex.

“It will be a new home for the club but has to be a community asset that everybody can use.”

On the ground issue in general, he added: “It has been a hard slog and a burden hanging over the club for too long.

“Wherever we go it will bring closure to part of the club’s life.”

The Terras now know they will host Shortwood United in the first qualifying round of the FA Trophy on Saturday, November 1 (3pm).

Shortwood beat Larkhall Athletic 4-2 in the preliminary round at the weekend.