FOOTBALL could be coming home to Enfield at the Queen Elizabeth II athletics stadium.o

Enfield Town FC, formed in the summer by disenchanted fans of Enfield FC, has jumped ahead of its rivals in the race for a permanent home in the borough.

Town chairman Dave Bryant confirmed to the Independent that he had held talks about the QEII stadium at Donkey Lane with Enfield and Haringey Athletics Club chief Ray Gibbons and also with the council which owns the site.

"It is something we are interested in. It is a definite possibility that we cannot afford to ignore," Mr Bryant said.

"We have had preliminary discussions with the local authority about our plans.

"We have also had a couple of conversations with Ray Gibbons and he has expressed some enthusiasm.

"QEII is in need of some redevelopment and Ray is enthusiastic about doing something jointly."

Mr Bryant also disclosed that he was examining two other possible sites.

Enfield Town of the Essex Senior League currently share with Brimsdown Rovers at Goldsdown Road and have attracted average attendances of more than 300 this season.

Mr Bryant has also had meetings with the charitable body the Football Foundation over funding for developing a stadium.

A Ryman League B-graded ground requires covered accommodation for 300 fans, a 150-capacity stand and the pitch to be fully enclosed.

It is estimated that such a redevelopment at QEII would cost £150,000.

"We are confident that we can access the finance to deliver that kind of stadium," Mr Bryant said.

"We are keen to move quite quickly as it is our club's number one priority."

The news that Enfield Town are closer to a permanent home than the original Enfield club will surely be a blow to their chairman Tony Lazarou who has been searching for a site for his club for two years. He is yet to comment on the issue.

A council spokesman said: "We will consider theis proposal as we would do with any other plan from sporting bodies."