Stockport County have been ground sharing with Sale Sharks since 2003

Acting Stockport County chairman Mary Gibbons says the club will not have to leave Edgeley Park even if they are relegated from the Football League.

Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy owns the stadium through company Cheshire Sports and County currently pay rent.

Gibbons told BBC Radio Manchester: "If we do drop into the Conference then we've been told Stockport County will only leave this ground if we want to.

"Brian Kennedy is happy for us to stay here as long as we like."

She added: "We have spoken to Brian Kennedy on lots of occasions and he did us a great deal on the rent at the beginning of the season.

"The rent that they were talking about we couldn't afford to pay that and to be fair to Brian we re-negotiated it and he assured me personally we will be at Edgeley Park as long as we like.

Asked if the club would remain at Edgeley Park if they were relegated, she responded: "We would have a future at Edgeley Park but at the end of the day there are lots of overheads with a stadium this size."

Gibbons also addressed the rumours that there is a pending takeover from New York businessman Mike Newton.

BBC Radio Stoke reported that Newton was eyeing to takeover at County and wanted to install Geoff Horsfield as manager.

"We do get people approaching the football club with various offers and all we do is if anything serious that comes in we have a look at it and judge accordingly," she said.

"If anything did come in we would look at it in the best interests of the football club.

"This week we get told via the media that this guy is back in again.

"Until we receive a little application or proposal then we obviously we don't take anything seriously until we've got something in writing and act on that according to the football club."

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