SALE Sharks are ready to complete a deal with Salford City Football Club and Salford City Council about buying the AJ Bell Stadium.
Since the stadium was opened nine years ago, the Sharks have been ground-sharing with Super League outfit Salford City Reds.
The Sharks signed a 25-year lease when they moved in and abandoned plans to build their own stadium in Trafford last September.
Now they are linking up with Manchester United legend and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, a co-owner of League Two Salford City, to buy the AJ Bell.
Salford City Reds are set to leave the stadium and move into the Moor Lane football ground, which has been developed as Neville's side climbed through the leagues.
The Super League side's lease on the AJ Bell Stadium runs out in 2023 but they could move out in time for the start of the 2022-23 football season.
The latest accounts for the stadium owners, City of Salford Community Stadium Ltd, have shown more than £32m of debt.
The cash-strapped council have invested millions into the stadium, and the Sharks made a serious bid to buy the ground earlier in the year.
The talks over the 12,000 capacity stadium, just off the M60, have taken off since Neville and his partners in Salford City got involved.
Blindside understands the deal could be formally completed before the Premiership season kicks off on September 17.
BY NEIL FISSLER
