Munto Finance have been given the green light in overwhelming fashion to complete the takeover of Notts County.
Members of the Supporters Trust had until noon yesterday to vote for the proposal that their 60 per cent shareholding of the club should be gifted to the Middle Eastern Consortium.
And when the count was completed, it was a landslide result with 814 members voting in favour of the takeover and just 55 against.
Said delighted chairman John Armstrong-Holmes: "It's a result that reflects the mood of anticipation among the vast majority of supporters.
"We are all excited about where Munto could take us over the next few years, and there's no doubt that this is an historic landmark for our famous old club.
"There is still work to be done to complete the takeover, but now the votes have been cast we can clearly see the way forward. That can only be good news.
"This deal has made us the envy of clubs up and down the country. When I was at the recent Annual Meeting of the Football League, people were coming up to me all the time wanting to know how we had managed to pull it off.
"Although it has been proved many times before that money doesn't guarantee success in football, we are on the brink of a situation that will surely be unique in this club's history.
"Plans can actually be made to do things - on and off the field - without having to worry about whether we can afford it. I firmly believe Munto are the people to transform the fortunes of the club that we all care so deeply about."
There was an 83 per cent turn-out of the Trust's membership of 1,025 and the second proposal to consider - to write-off loans the Trust had in the club - resulted in 784 votes in favour and 78 against.
Armstrong-Holmes believes it will take around two more weeks to complete the formalities of the takeover.
But he pointed out that Peter Trembling, who is to become the new chairman and chief executive, is already installed at Meadow Lane and will immediately have a bigger say in the decision-making process.
Said Trust chairman Glenn Rolley: "The Trust membership have exercised their democratic right and it is very clear where the overwhelming majority stand on the issue.
"They recognise that it is a magnificent opportunity to put Notts County back on the football map after so many years in the doldrums and have decided to give their full backing to Munto Finance.
"Time will tell whether the decision is the right one. But like everyone who cares about the future of Notts County, I'm genuinely excited about the way forward."
