SUPPORTERS of Worcester City have welcomed the board’s belated decision to consider becoming a fan-owned club.

But any change in the club’s “future governance structure” will not happen until the city council have determined the Perdiswell stadium bid.

Members of Worcester City FC Supporters’ Trust say they have been pressing for the club to adopt a fan-ownership model for more than a decade and often been “severely criticised”.

A statement from the Vanarama National League North outfit revealed they were prepared to make a decision on the move, which could take “the risk out of the business”.

However, directors of the exiled club insist they will wait until plans to build a 4,100-capacity ground on Perdiswell Park have been put before Worcester City Council’s planning committee.

A club spokesman said: “The board of directors have agreed that, once the joint-planning application for a community stadium at Perdiswell has been determined by the council, they propose to put before shareholders for decision proposals for the future governance structure of the football club.”

A spokesman from the trust, who have also been behind the community stadium plans, admitted a decision on the change in the club’s constitution had come “some years too late”.

But he said he was pleased their proposals were now on the table as the trust insist becoming fan-owned will help the club raise capital for the new ground and negotiate with the council to use the land at Perdiswell.

“We have been proposing such a structural change for more than 10 years,” he said.

“Still we battled on, presenting to various boards of directors a model that could take risk out of the business while delivering a larger, more altruistic ownership base for fans, members, businesses and community groups.”

He added: “At a recent AGM, the board presented figures to show that losses are running at a forecasted £120,000.

“When pressed by the board, the trust have always delivered proposals, advice from legal experts and advice from the most experienced organisation in this field, Supporters Direct, who have helped all other clubs to become community-owned.

“Often this information has been severely criticised but at no point has any alternative been put forward by the football club, other than, ‘We will keep on doing what hasn’t worked in the past’.

“The trust therefore welcomes the fact that at least a decision has been made by the board, albeit some years too late, and hope that shareholders, fans and the community of Worcester alike really buy into the concept of a community football club at Perdiswell, providing sporting and social activities for all, not just for the benefit of WCFC Ltd.”