Tony Puletua and his team-mates will play home matches at Widnes

St Helens will play their home matches at Widnes's Halton Stadium next season whilst their new ground is being built.

Saints chairman Eamonn McManus said: "Knowsley Road cannot function for another year but the Halton Stadium is only a couple of miles from St Helens."

McManus, meanwhile, confirmed that Saints are "very close" to appointing a new coach.

Australian Royce Simmons is favourite to succeed Mick Potter who moves to Bradford at the end of the 2010 season.

The Merseyside club's new 18,000-capacity arena was granted planning permission back in 2008.

And McManus revealed construction was now set to begin on a derelict 46-acre site at Peasley Cross, on the edge of the town.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Saints' Widnes move

"The building contractor for our new stadium, Barr Construction, have been appointed and remediation and construction work will start shortly," explained McManus.

"Our dream is going to transform into a physical reality and it is the best news in the history of the club and town.

"It will ensure a future as exciting as our history and give a major boost to the local economy at a time when positive economic news is as common as chicken's teeth.

"We have good reason to be elated and proud."

It is planned that the Knowsley Road site, where Saints have played since 1890, will be developed into residential accommodation.

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