Former Swansea City director Mel Nurse has taken the first step towards gaining control of the club from chairman Tony Petty.

Ex-Wales international Nurse, the club's major creditor, has applied for an administration order over Swansea City and it is likely to come to court on Tuesday, 13 November.

The order means that no action can be taken by the current shareholders to wind up the company and offers Nurse some legal protection against other creditors.

Nurse, a former Swans player, bought up �801,000 debts from former owners Ninth Floor plc, shortly after resigning from the board on 1 November.

He said he acted after opposition to the plans of Petty, the Australian businessman who had bought the club from ex-chairman Mike Lewis, had resulted in protests and street marches.

In papers put before the court, Nurse and former Swans finance director Martin Burgess, who is involved in an advisory role, said they wanted to reassure fans, players and everyone associated with the club.

They said that they would use their utmost efforts to secure the future of the club and its football league status.

The court date will establish whether or not an administrator would be appointed.

Petty said the matter was now in the hands of his lawyers.