AN ongoing dispute which threatened the future of a popular football club has finally been resolved.

The battle between Wivenhoe Football Club and Wivenhoe and District Sporting Facilities Trust, which owns the club’s base in Broad Lane, Wivenhoe, was halted during a dispute resolution hearing.

Relations between the football club and sporting trust fell sour earlier this year, after the trust locked the club out of the ground, claiming it owed £10,000 in rent.

The club sought a court injunction to get the site re-opened within two weeks of the closure, and the dispute resolution hearing was arranged to resolve the financial dispute between the two parties.

Although details of the mediation hearing, which took place on Thursday, have to remain confidential for legal reasons, both parties say they are happy with the outcome.

The site is now set to be transformed into a community facility, to include a pool, gym and allotments, after an anonymous resident stepped forward to fund the project.

The secret millionaire, who does not want to be identified, has offered to partly-fund a £1.4million sports, leisure and community facility alongside the football ground.

He lives locally and wants to leave a legacy for the town.

It is hoped the club and trust can join forces to help make the project happen.

Nick Murphy Whymark, spokesperson for the club, said: “The future of the club certainly looks bright, and we are all very pleased with the outcome.

“We are also very excited about the developments on the Broad Lane site, which will bring so much to the town of Wivenhoe.”

Mr Whymark said work on the project could get under way as early as next year.

A public meeting is to be held before Christmas.

For more on the project, visit www.broadlanefuture.com