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Macclesfield Town have moved a step closer to building a new stadium.

The Silkmen have agreed a partnership with regeneration specialists St Modwen to go ahead with plans for a new 7,000 capacity home.

The stadium is part of a 130-acre site, including leisure facilities, close to the club's current Moss Rose ground.

"This is another big step in moving from the Moss Rose. We've got a big player who knows how to do these things," said chairman Mike Rance.

Macclesfield had the in the Football League last season and continue to work with one of the smallest playing budgets.

It is hoped that a new stadium will help towards increasing crowds as well as provide sports facilities for the local area.

Asked when construction might begin, Rance told : "I would hope in the foreseeable future, sort of four or five years. It will be that sort of length of time before we are there.

"But you never know, we'll try and move it as quickly as we can.

"We've got a significant role to play in being an anchor, or lead, to develop the area.

"We're looking to put together a stadium with a lot of community facilities and hopefully that will initiate substantial further development of the overall area."