Supporters are warned to behave when they are in Cheltenham

The club will be homeless for 18 months when work begins in January.

Rovers had also been in talks with Swindon Town for several months, but a survey of supporters showed more than half were in favour of Whaddon Road.

Director Geoff Dunford said the Cheltenham Town board of directors had made them feel very welcome.

Neighbourhood respect

"We feel the size of Whaddon Road will help create an excellent atmosphere, much the same as Twerton Park did for us when we moved to Bath in 1986," he said.

"The playing surface is also superb and will suit the type of football Lennie Lawrence and Paul Trollope wish to play."

Rovers spent a decade in exile in Bath, when they were unable to secure a home ground in Bristol.

"When we relocated to Bath many residents were apprehensive, but as a club we showed respect for the neighbourhood and the environment around us, and over time we added value to the local community," added Mr Dunford.

"We wish to recreate that feeling in Cheltenham and we will not tolerate any misdemeanours from our supporters."

The move to Whaddon Road is set to be formally rubber-stamped by the Football League later in the week, ahead of the release of the 2007/08 fixture list next Thursday.