More than 4,000 football fans across the country have spoken out in support of Braintree Town Football Club as it battles to find a new home.

Earlier this year, chairman Lee Harding spoke of his fears for the future of the club if local plan proposals go ahead.

The site of the club’s training facilities has been allocated for housing in the plan, a move that could leave the club without access to the away section of stadium on match days, without any car park facilities or able to use the training facilities.

The lease on the training pitch, owned by Braintree Council, expires in 2030, however in the plan, the site is expected to accommodate sixty homes over the next five years.

Any building on the site would require Braintree Council to reach an agreement with the club regarding the lease.

Dan Cook, of Great Dunmow, set up the petition calling for the council to work with the club to find it a new home.

He said: "We have had much more support than we thought we would. It has come from football fans all over the country as well which is nice.

"We will be presenting it to James Cleverly, MP for Braintree, and we are sending a copy to Karen Bradley, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

"We are hopeful it can make a difference and give a message to the council."

Visit http://bit.ly/2w0Ok5t to see the petition.