CHIEFS running Salisbury FC are full of delight after officially returning to the Ray Mac.

The consortium leading the phoenix club signed the lease agreed by the trustees on Tuesday to ensure they are back in their long-lasting home.

Chairman David Phillips, commercial manager Mandy Woolford and chief operating officer Jeremy Harwood were at Old Sarum once the one-season deal had been finalised.

Phillips, a longstanding fan of the old Whites, said it was a “relief” to get the keys to the stadium.

“It was an amazing feeling after eight months of stress and disappointment,” said the 65-year-old.

“We have secured a fair and reasonable deal with the trustees.

“We would have liked longer but understand that the trustees cannot offer more than one season.”

A proposal to return to the Football Pyramid has been lodged to the FA and the club now must wait to see what league they will be given in a fortnight’s time, ahead of a final decision in May.

It is likely the club will restart in either step four or five of the non-league ladder – Wessex Premier or Southern League Division One South and West.

If the board’s Southern League wish is granted, they will face the likes of Yate Town, AFC Totton, Swindon Supermarine and Wimborne Town in 2015/16.

“The Southern League would be a good starting point for us but it’s difficult to know where we will be put,” added Phillips.

“We’ve also set a budget, which we think is realistic. We believe it will give us a good chance in either league.”

“Now we are back in the stadium, we need the support of local businesses.”

To boost funding, the club has launched a Backin’ Business campaign.

Club spokesman Ian Ridley said: "We've got plenty to do in a short space of time and we are raring to go.

"The important thing now is to get Salisbury FC going commercially so that the club has a good fund to pay summer costs with no real income, and to support Steve Claridge (manager) as he goes about assembling a squad for next season.

"Mandy Woolford will be a key figure in all this as our commercial manager and we hope we will get support from companies and supporters for our Backin' Business campaign to make sure the new club has a fighting chance of prospering again."