An aerial view of Love Street (courtesy of Saltire Graphics)

After lobbying from football fans, Renfrewshire Council agreed that the club could make the move in order to secure its future.

St Mirren FC says it needs to sell in order to clear its debts and build a new stadium.

Planning officials at the council had recommended that the proposal for the Paisley ground be rejected.

The Saints have debts of more than �2m, but the club believes it can return to the black by selling Love Street with planning permission for a supermarket and to build a new stadium at Greenhill Road.

'Open spaces'

However, council officials wanted to preserve the "areas of open recreational space" on the site the ground occupies.

Club chairman Stewart Gilmour said last week: "We're not asking the council for any money.

"All we're asking for is planning permission and the opportunity to safeguard something special for the community, which we can finance ourselves by selling our ground."

St Mirren is considering an option of groundsharing with Partick Thistle at Firhill in the west of Glasgow.