THE agony is over.

Salisbury FC’s arduous wrestle to get back in their beloved Ray Mac has been resolved after a deal with the trustees was struck on Tuesday.

The tireless work of fans who pledged their support to the newly-formed club by launching a Save Our Stadium petition helped rack up more than 6,000 signatures, with Salisbury MP John Glen and Wiltshire Council leader Jane Scott supporting the cause.

Board members are now urgently working with the trustees of the Raymond McEnhill Stadium on finalising the terms and conditions of the lease.

This is being done ahead of the March 31 deadline by which the club must make an official application to the FA, stating where they will play football (2015/16 season) and include a business plan for a return to the nonleague football pyramid. If things go well, Salisbury will play their first competitive game after a 16-month exile.

A club spokesman said: “We would like to thank the trustees for effecting our return to the Ray Mac, which they have agreed after satisfying their own responsibilities towards the beneficiaries by taking the professional advice they were duty bound to do.

“We now look forward to getting back into the Ray Mac in the very near future and making an immediate start on getting the club up and running properly.

“There is much work to be done, from getting a team together to establishing a commercial operation that can finance the ambitions of the new club.

“Judging by the enthusiastic response we have had from supporters and the wider Salisbury public to our attempts to bring professional football back to the city, we hope and believe those ambitions can be fulfilled.”

“We would also like to thank our local MP, John Glen, for his role in bringing the two parties together, as well as councillors of all parties from both Salisbury City and Wiltshire councils.

The Wiltshire FA and Sport England have also been extremely supportive.

“Our fans have also been a tower of strength in canvassing the politicians and organising an influential petition and we are full of admiration for the role they have played in making this possible.”

Fan Thom Belk who setup the ‘Save our Stadium’ bid said: “When the campaign was started, the Journal donated the back page to us and they really helped us get the word out to people and places we wouldn’t be able to reach.

“They helped raise the profile of our petition massively. Without the paper, it would have been a challenging task. They were also a great help with pre- Christmas matchday event, which was a great success.”

Wilsons Law, acting on behalf of the trustees, said in a statement to the Journal: “The Trustees have had positive discussions with the representatives of SFC and anticipate granting a short term lease to allow them use of the stadium for next season.”