Notts County Football Club are delighted to announce that they have come to an agreement with Nottingham Rugby that will see the Green and Whites playing their matches at Meadow Lane for the next seven years.

Following productive negotiations between the two clubs, terms have been agreed on a new deal that will run from June 1, 2010, representing the first step towards what both parties hope will be a strong working relationship in the coming years.

Nottingham Rugby chairman, Alastair Bow, said of the new agreement: "At long last we can begin to build a future, and we'll be forever grateful to Ray Trew and his colleagues.

"The past eight months have been totally wasted. Everything has been on hold because we really didn't know if we had a way forward, and there's no doubt that it has caused us to lose supporters and sponsors - and created massive financial problems."

Since completing his takeover of Notts County, chairman Ray Trew has been keen to stress the importance of strengthening relationships with local businesses and the local community and he was delighted to have come to an agreement with Nottingham Rugby.

"Nottingham Rugby is an integral part of the thriving sports scene here in Nottingham and we are delighted to have signed this deal to ensure that we can now move forward together," said Mr Trew.

"We see Nottingham Rugby as a strong ally in our bid to make Notts County Football Club, and Meadow Lane in particular, one of the top sports and entertainment venues in the UK."

Mr Bow was also keen to draw a line under a turbulent few months in the relationship between the two clubs, adding: "The whole experience has been very traumatic and because of all the uncertainty, we have been pretty much living from day to day.

"But I'm relieved to say that's now all in the past and having met with a totally different attitude from Ray Trew and Jim Rodwell, we are very excited about where this new relationship might lead.

"We've always maintained that the best way forward for both clubs is to develop a strong working partnership, and I'm delighted to say that the new owners of Notts County share this view.

"They obviously have massive problems to contend with at the moment and I really hope they can find a way through them.

"County supporters can rest assured that their club is in good hands, and we will support them wherever possible."