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The club's deputy chairman is more than encouraged by the way numerous groups and individuals have embraced the fight to secure a new stadium.

He now feels the opportunity is ripe to send a powerful message to Swindon Council while providing manager Iffy Onuora with a massive shot in the arm in the small matter of League One survival.

Devlin knows Swindon Town means a great deal to a great many people and that should be acknowledged.

However, he is well aware that less than sparkling gates are a weapon opponents and cynics are not slow to yield.

Devlin prefers to turn the argument on its head.

He said: "I hear some people saying we only' get gates of 5,000 or so. How important can the football club really be?

"My answer to that is how many other events or organisations in Swindon attract that level of interest?

"People do care and the way that different organisations have united on this redevelopment issue, from supporters groups to the local media is very heartening.

"There may have been differences on certain issues between the club and the fans at times but this is about achieving a common aim.

"Whether it's the petition forms we're receiving by the day or the car stickers, I do feel momentum is being gathered.

"We might not yet be on a scale seen at Brighton and Hove Albion but this issue does matter to people."

While grateful to the fans who turn up week in and week out, Devlin hopes an upturn in fortunes on the pitch will now encourage others to return to the fold, providing a double boost in the process.

He said: "By boosting the gates that sends out a strong message to the council and at the same time it provides some extra help for Iffy Onuora and his players.

"I think those attending the games at the moment can see this is a team running through brick walls for this club and its manager.

"The spirit is there for all to see and hopefully more of those who have stopped coming for whatever reason can start to get into the habit again and help this club push forward."

"I have seen the Promised Land"

FORMER Swindon mayor and Liberal Democrat councillor Stan Pajak believes Swindon needs a new stadium.

"As Swindon Council and Swindon Town Football Club deliberate on the future of football in our town I have seen the Promised Land and it is the Madejski Stadium in Reading.

"I was part of a group of councillors, council and club officials who visited the Madejski stadium as part of a fact finding tour. It proved a real eye opener in terms of what is possible.

"The stadium was built in 1998 through a partnership between club, business and the local council. The modern family friendly 24,000 seat stadium combines with a prestige hotel and conference centre. The council's ability to donate land (a former rubbish dump) was allowed by government rules because of the believed benefit to the community.

"These benefits are tangible not only in the local community use of the stadium but also in selling the Reading brand, attracting events, investors, business and visits to the town.

"Unfortunately it is a key element of football club, private developers and council working together that Swindon profoundly lacks.

"This is the key that will unlock the door to providing a new stadium that our town deserves with real benefits for everyone.

"With the very future of the club at stake this opportunity must not be lost."

Moving home

TOWN are certainly the exception rather than the rule when it comes to bricks and mortar.

There was a time where a club rebuilding or switching grounds altogether was seen as something exceptional.

Until a decade or so ago clubs were firmly rooted in the place where they had started life, often for a century or more.

Huddersfield Town were one of the first to buck the trend, moving from Leeds Road to the McAlpine Stadium in 1994. Middlesbrough abandoned Ayresome Park for the Riverside Stadium in 1995 while closer to home Oxford United said goodbye to the Manor Ground in 2001 and began life at the Kassam Stadium.

County Ground deputy chairman Mark Devlin says there are now a member of a dwindling band being left behind.

In League One, the likes of Colchester United, Chesterfield and Doncaster Rovers are all in the process of looking to or actually building new homes.

Devlin said: "As far as I am aware there are only nine clubs who are effectively doing nothing when it comes to their existing home."

Praise for kicking out racism

SOUTH Swindon MP Anne Snelgrove has praised Swindon Town for its work to tackle racism.

Her comments came after she sought assurance that effective steps are being taken to promote an anti-racist message through football in a question to the House of Commons recently.

Sports Minister Richard Caborn responded, outlining the integrated approach adopted by the Government and Swindon Town Football Club.

He said: "Swindon Town Football Club gives its full backing to the national anti-racism campaigns, Kick It Out and Show Racism the Red Card. The club promotes the campaigns on match days and they liaise with the local authority and local schools to convey the anti-racism message.

Mrs Snelgrove's action team member Bob Wright, from Swindon's Central ward, attended the Football in the Community Meeting.

He said: "STFC want to continue their work with the Government and improve the work they are doing. They have had a huge success actively encouraging people from ethnic minorities into football and at some point there will be a breakthrough."

Mrs Snelgrove, pictured, said: "I congratulate Swindon Town Football Club for their readiness to work with partners in tackling racism and encouraging the community to come together."

Swindon Town, Wiltshire Football Association, community members and other interested parties are seeking to develop the positive steps already taken to combat racism.

"My Department continues to support these anti-racism campaigns such as Kick It Out and Show Racism the Red Card through funding for the Football Foundation which will receive £45m in Government money between 2004 and 2007. We are also working closely with the Commission for Racial Equality who are developing race equality action plans with the Football Association, the Premier League, the Football League, the Professional Footballers Association and the Football Foundation."