Common sense has at last prevailed and the Kassam Stadium has been declared a community asset, which means that should its owner ever choose to sell, Oxford City Council must first be told.

The best possible news for fans of Oxford United, it clears the way for OxVox, the independent Oxford United supporters’ trust, to prepare its own bid should the stadium ever be put on the market.

And it looks like Oxford could be leading the way – with supporters’ groups at Manchester United and Liverpool considering OxVox’s initiative as a means of securing the futures of both Old Trafford and Anfield.

The bid is the first of its kind under the Localism Act of 2011, which gives the community the chance to try to buy local facilities such as shops and pubs that are about to close down.

Not surprisingly, the council’s decision has been welcomed by supporters across the city.

OxVox chairman Mark Sennett said: “United supporters will now never wake up one morning and read that the stadium has been sold with no recourse.”

It is clear that the people of Oxford have not only an interest, but a right too to determine the future of such a valuable and much-loved community asset.

And today they made their voices heard...