Stirling Council has announced that Stirling Albion Football Club (SAFC) has been handed more time to pay more than a year's worth of unpaid rent on the Forthbank Stadium.

The council has revealed that it has given until the end of November to make "satisfactory progress" in paying £67,000 owed by the club, after reaffirming its commitment to pursue the arrears at a meeting on 1 October. Although negotiations are continuing with the current owner of SAFC, Stirling Council is also seeking to terminate the existing lease on the stadium, which has been in place since 1993 but restricts the way the venue is run.

The council believes that by negotiating a new lease with the Scottish League Division Two club, it will provide greater flexibility to support senior football in the town and ensure that leisure facilities are made available to community when not in use by the club. Graham Houston, Stirling Council leader, said: "It is unfortunate that the Council has to take this decision and it was not taken lightly but we have been very patient with the club and cannot allow the situation to carry on any longer.

"The council are more than prepared to discuss the terms of the lease if that would be helpful."