Stockport County Supporters' Trust is nearing completion of securing the ownership of the club forever in the control of its supporters.

Approaching 1000 County fans have already signed up as trust members and at the recent SGM gave the Trusts board a virtually unanimous mandate to close the deal with multi-millionaire owner Brian Kennedy.

The Trust has confirmed that they have received many enthusiastic offers of help and support - and what is noticeable is the number of Stockport based Manchester United supporters who were eager to support the County cause.

A Stockport County Trust spokesman said:

"Stockport County supporters sympathise deeply with all football supporters who suffer because they are as a group excluded from controlling the destiny of their football club!

"Football supporters hold the key to football's future. They are the game's greatest assets, the people who pay the ticket prices, TV subscriptions and buy the merchandise.

They keep the game in business.

Where clubs have been in crisis, they have more often than not been saved by their supporters and emerged the stronger for it."

"The sad events that have occurred at Manchester United clearly identify the problems that occur when individuals, especially those with possible selfish intentions and personal motivation, control and dictate policy and direction.

"In retrospect had Manchester United supporters been able to do what Stockport County supporters are doing now when Martin Edwards was selling to Michael Knighton they would not be suffering now."

"It may be too late for Manchester United but it is a hard lesson to be learnt by all groups of supporters and it emphasises that no club is safe, not even the biggest in the world, unless under supporter ownership."

"Any assistance the Stockport County Trust can give to Manchester United or indeed supporters of any football club they will - and we hope all Manchester United supporters will reciprocate and buy a bond to save County!