SUPERMARKET giant Asda is set to move to Weymouth Football Club's Wessex Stadium home.

Terras' bosses revealed that the club has signed a deal with a developer for the retail giant to move to the 17-acre Radipole Lane site.

Asda has yet to seek planning permission but the store wants to relocate because it says it has outgrown its current Newstead Road base - bought from Weymouth FC in 1987 - which is earmarked for housing development.

The Wessex Stadium lies in West Dorset and developers Trent Property Developments Limited are set for talks with planners at both Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and West Dorset District Council before applying for planning permission, expected in around six months time.

The agreement would see the developer build a new 6,000 capacity Football stadium, at a site in or around the Weymouth area, due to be completed by 2006.

It has been suggested that the new stadium could be sited close to the existing ground, either on land at the rear of the new police headquarters or on a field next to the pitch and putt club. But the club refused to be drawn on where the new ground would be.

It would, however, be to Football League standards with facilities including 1,000 seats, a gym, sponsors and banqueting suites, lounge bars, a conference room, offices and floodlit training and all-weather Astroturf pitches.

The deal involves the developer paying Weymouth FC £70,000 each year but the scheme will be reviewed annually giving Asda the option to walk away from the deal.

The club, which has already received the first payment, would get just over £1 million once the new stadium was completed, with Asda then moving to the Wessex Stadium site - creating around 400 jobs.

Trent will pay for legal costs and build Weymouth FC a new ground which would be no further than one mile outside the town boundary - with the freehold of the new site given to the club.

Terras bosses say the project would, if given the go-ahead, safeguard the future of the cash-strapped club. They are currently around £150,000 in debt.

Chairman Terry Bennett told last night's shareholders' meeting: "The Wessex Stadium has always been a white elephant and the board has worked extremely hard to get this deal.

"The club has got one last chance to get it right. We are only in the early days and there is going to be a lot of work over the next few months and years."

Naomi Duggan, Asda's property manager, said: "Discussions are still at an early stage but this could be an excellent opportunity for Asda to achieve a modern new store in Weymouth. The new store would offer a wider range of goods than the existing store."

Mr Bennett added that Trent, who have worked with Asda on previous developments, are planning to speak to South Dorset MP Jim Knight and his West Dorset counterpart, Oliver Letwin, to try and get their backing.

Toby Atkinson, of Trent, said: "Asda want to move and will back this deal until it happens. It could take four years and a lot of work but we think developing the Wessex Stadium is the most suitable solution for our client."

Terras director Steve McDonald stressed there was a number of hurdles to overcome before the deal comes to fruition.

He explained that the contract stated the club would not leave the Wessex Stadium until they were ready to kick a ball in the new stadium.

"Hopefully these plans will dissolve the apathy around Weymouth that people seem to have for the football club," he said.

In March 2001 Weymouth FC unveiled plans for a £20 million sports and leisure complex on land near their current Radipole Lane headquarters.

The proposals included a 6,000 capacity football stadium, a hotel and conference suite, tennis courts, athletics track and a leisure complex with swimming pools and a 'snow-dome' ski centre.

Mr Bennett said those plans were shelved due to problems between solicitors in January this year when a lock out clause ended.

Terras' shareholders last night backed the deal and said it would benefit the whole community.

Mike Wykes, of Dorchester, said: "I've always said the Chickerell area needs a decent shopping store and, by the sounds of it, this deal looks to be good news."

Steve Dadd, from Weymouth, added: "The new football club facilities would be beneficial to anyone who loves sport in the area."