Bishop Auckland edged another step closer to moving to their new ground after Kingsway officially went on sale this week.

Bishops need the income from their part of the sale of the ground to go towards the funding of their proposed new ground at Tindale Crescent.

Bishop Auckland chairman Tony Duffy said: "We had a survey of the ground done just before Christmas, which supplied us with the dimensions of the area to be put up for sale. They have been agreed with the cricket club and the Church Commissioners.

"We then got in touch with our estate agents, who have put the ground officially up for sale, asking for offers of £300,000. We will be entitled to a share of the proceeds, along with the cricket club and Church Commissioners.

"And when the ground is sold, then we can finance the Lottery bid. There has been a lot of interest so far, and any calls I've had, I've passed on to the estate agent."

Duffy is unable to put an accurate timescale on the proposed sale and move, but he said: "We are talking of a minimum of eighteen months, probably longer.

"Next season may be the last at Kingsway, but we've had a few false alarms already.

"These things, just like the sale of a house, can take a long time. Even when we have a purchaser of the football ground, we still have to wait three months for a lottery bid.

"But at least we're moving now. Hopefully, this is a big step forward towards our target."

The move to a new ground was first mooted around five years ago. The cricket club will be staying put on their part of Kingsway, and whoever purchases the land must provide a perimeter wall and protective netting for the cricket club.

Bishops League Cup tie against Spennymoor, which was postponed last week, has been re-arranged for this Tuesday night.

Gateshead secretary Arthur Waggott has decided to stand down at the end of the season after five years in the job at the International Stadium and will become a director. Waggott was previously secretary of Northern League club Brandon.