LONG-SUFFERING fans of Salisbury FC have sent out a rallying cry to the city to help save the Ray Mac with the launch of a campaign - #SOSalisbury.

The petition was sparked by the fans’ forum last week where the consortium met with supporters and made a plea for help to get the stadium back.

Fans Chris Maple and Thom Belk have created a Facebook page - Save Our Stadium – which already has 1,102 likes and has taken the city by storm. The name has also been set-up on Twitter with @SaveOurStadium and @SavetheRayMac.

The group have used social medial as a platform to engage with everyone and get people on board to ensure football returns to the city next season.

An ePetition on Wiltshire Council website is up-andrunning and has been signed by 161 people.

And local councillors and Salisbury MP John Glen have been inundated with emails from fans asking to back the Ray Mac as the club still remains locked out of its home, which was purposed built for football by Raymond McEnhill in 1997.

Club advisor Ian Ridley, who answered fans’ questions at the Chapel Nightclub, says he’s impressed with how receptive everyone involved with the club has been.

He said: “We were delighted with the turnout and the mood at the fans' forum last week and with the efforts of supporters since then to step up the campaign to get back into the Ray Mac.

“Our chairman, Dave Phillips, had a very productive meeting with John Glen MP and we have also had plenty of supportive feedback from local councillors and people in planning circles.”

The club have this week sent a letter of intent to the FA, with the aim of returning to the Football Pyramid.

They say if they are not granted a lease, they will ground share in the meantime until they find a permanent home.”

He added: “The Wiltshire FA and the FA itself are aware of the situation, and have indicated they will help us in our attempts to bring football back to Salisbury, and we have Sport England also monitoring the situation.

“We feel sure that it is coming to the point where the trustees have to see that if they did want eventually to develop the site, they are going to have to go through all sorts of planning hoops to get a change of use and need the support and backing of the club, the local community and all the relevant bodies involved in planning to do that.

“We are always here if they want to talk to us and work with us to achieve a conclusion that it beneficial both to them and the club - and in a shorter time frame than it would take if they don't work with us.

“In the meantime, we are continuing the work behind the scenes to get the club up and running and exploring all the options.”

Fans are discussing the campaign tonight at the Vestry Bar at 7.30pm and they are planning to take to the steps at Salisbury Guildhall on Saturday morning to rack up some more signatures.

Follow the progress at @Saljournalsport.