Firm friends are welcome to stay

The Mariners told fans that their North West Counties Premier Division tenants would be playing at the Marine Travel Arena until at least the end of the 2017-18 season before beating Halesowen Town 4-0 at their home in the EVO-STIK NPL's top flight on Saturday.

The terms of the extended agreement - which includes an option to enter into further negotiations towards the end of next year for an extension beyond 2018 - were quickly reached between officials this week but will not be disclosed by either club.

Marine chairman Paul Leary is delighted a club he now calls "firms friends" is staying at The Marine Travel Arena, the leading Non-League venue in Merseyside having undergone a series of redevelopments over the last 20 years, most recently in 2015 when improvements including a new match hospitality area, boardroom and matchday office under the main stand and car park extension were completed.

They followed the installation of a new £70k four corner floodlight system in the summer of 2012 and Leary said: “Marine Football Club is delighted that officials of both clubs quickly agreed this week to a further extension of their stay here at the Marine Travel Arena until 2018.

"Since AFC Liverpool moved here in 2014 the officials of both clubs have become firm friends and the relationship between Marine and AFC Liverpool could not be better with each club becoming supporters of the other."

He added: "Both clubs benefit and prosper from the agreement for AFC Liverpool to continue to play at the Marine Travel Arena and this longer arrangement provides that continuity and stability that is needed in football.”

AFC Liverpool chairman Chris Stirrup told the fans of both clubs they were delighted to be staying put and continuing a relationship they started in 2014. “The continuation of our ground share agreement is an extension of the friendship that has built up over the past couple of seasons," he said.

"It’s no secret that we are actively working on finding our own ground, but until that time, we could not be happier here at the Marine Travel Arena. The friendships built up between the two clubs are amazing and the help and guidance everyone at Marine has given us has been invaluable and we are continually grateful for their help."

He added: "This further agreement helps secure our future and is a further chance for us to help Marine progress both on and off the field.”

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