ROVERS fans were given the best possible news to lift the gloom of relegation as long-awaited stadium plans were revealed last week.

After months of speculation it was confirmed that the Memorial Stadium redevelopment had been scrapped in favour of a much more ambitious, exciting project.

It has been a frustrating time for fans clamouring for news but the wait was worth it as the board delivered a scheme that has captured their imagination and reignited enthusiasm.

The UWE stadium meets all the requirements that the club need - 20,000 seats with the potential to increase, state of the art facilities and an ideal location with excellent transport links.

The plan has been welcomed in principle by council leaders, which is an encouraging sign, and a stadium is in South Gloucestershire Council’s blueprint for the area which again raises optimism that planning permission should not pose a significant problem on the site, which lies next to the university’s Frenchay campus.

The thornier matter could be Sainsbury’s getting approval to build on the Memorial Stadium site if traffic and access concerns become an issue.

But the reaction from a good number of Horfield residents so far suggests that they would rather have a supermarket on their doorstep than a redeveloped stadium so this could again help Rovers overcome the planning hurdles that lie ahead.

The fact that Bristol Rugby are also keen to become tenants at the UWE Stadium and quit the Mem gives added impetus to the campaign to make the project reality.

Fans will certainly have some feeling of scepticism as so many plans have been put forward before and failed to materialise.

But this one does seem to tick all the boxes so far and our optimism seems better placed than ever before.

Following the appointment of Paul Buckle and an influx of new players expected over the next few weeks, the air of negativity has been lifted and there is now much to look forward to.

Rovers undoubtedly need a new stadium to generate extra revenue and attract more fans and the board may just have produced a scheme that will see the Pirates prosper.