NEWPORT IoW are confident they can remain a Dr Martens League club now that the ground and facilities have been sold to a Salisbury-based leisure company.

After an agonisingly long wait, the receivers from BDO Stoy Hayward of Southampton have announced that they have tied up a deal for St George's Park with South Coast Leisure Limited.

The new owners will lease the pitch and facilities to the club for a peppercorn rent.

It is still unclear exactly which facilities that covers, but the overall feeling among Port officials and supporters is sheer relief that the club, which yesterday celebrated its 116th birthday, lives on.

Chairman Bill Manuel is still the majority shareholder of the football club with 51 per cent, but ultimately it is hoped the club will fall back into the hands of the fans.

Alan Phillips of the Supporters Trust said: "We believe Bill Manuel will stay involved until May to enable a smooth transition between him running the club and the Supporters' Trust taking over.

"The fans would gladly take it on. The peppercorn rent eases a huge financial burden and long-term we would have to look at running it as a business by getting advertising and sponsorship.

"Providing we pick up a few more points to keep us in the DML Eastern Division, I'm confident we will be playing at the same level next season.

"It's certainly been a happy birthday for Newport and supporters now have the chance to put their money where their mouths are."

Since the receivers took over in December, Newport have lost many of their better players and are hurtling towards the Eastern Division relegation zone.

To halt the slide, they have brought in former reserve team manager John Linnington to stabilise the side, working in tandem with his right-hand man Roger McCormack and former caretaker boss Bunny Warwick.

Football secretary Dave Bartlett said: "We're heading towards the lower echelons fast and it's a getting a bit too close for comfort.

"We're not looking for promotion this season, but relegation is the last thing we want."

Meanwhile, former first-team manager Tony Mount has resigned as Newport's director of football after six years at St George's Park.

He said: "It's tremendous news that the club is back in the hands of the shareholders and that football is guaranteed.

"I've had some great times at Newport, and I wish the new owners and management the very best of luck."

Saturday's home game against table-topping Tonbridge will definitely go ahead.