Following a meeting of Leeds City's Council Executive Board, the Council have issued the following statement regarding the club's Thorp Arch Academy...

At a special meeting of the executive board today, senior councillors have authorised officers to continue discussions with Leeds United regarding the buy back of the club's Thorp Arch training facility from a private company.

Any deal would secure use of the training facility for the Olympics, the2013 & 2015 Rugby World Cups, and the 2018 Football World Cup, along with increased Leeds United community activity across the city. As part of their current lease agreement the club has the option to buy-back the facility from the private company, but this option expires on 10thOctober 2009.

The club approached Leeds City Council for assistance with buying back the training facility. At a meeting of the executive board last month members agreed to investigate whether it was appropriate for the council to be involved in the matter. At that meeting it rejected any possibility of a loan being made to the club and asked officers to examine an alternative option where the council borrow money to buy the facility and then lease it back to Leeds United.

Councillor Andrew Carter, executive board member responsible for city development, said: "Officers have been in discussions with Leeds United and have been investigating the financial and legal considerations. Our main concern is that this arrangement must not ultimately be paid for by the council--tax payers of Leeds, so before we agree to anything we must be satisfied that all of our costs would be fully covered by the club's rent payments and security bonds.

"We will now be putting a proposal to the club based on a set lease. We have made it very clear on what basis we are able to help and hope Leeds United are able to accept these terms."

Councillor Richard Brett, leader of the council added: "A successful Leeds United is undoubtedly a great asset to the city so we have explored many options to see how we can help. We hope the proposals we will be putting to them will be acceptable.

"However there are still some key legal issues to be resolved here and a deal is by no means certain, but the two parties continue to work together well to try and deliver the best outcome for the club and the city".

Council officers will now report back to the main party leaders, prior tothe deadline, to finalise the decision.

After being informed of the outcome of the meeting, Leeds United CEO Shaun Harvey said: "We are pleased that the Executive Board of the Council felt able, following our outline discussions, to forward an offer to assist with the re-purchase.

"As always it would be sensible for us to wait to receive the details of the offer before commenting any further but would like to place on record our thanks to all those that have spent time in considering our request."