NORTHWICH Victoria hope to be back at home in the next few days.

The players entered a fourth week locked out of the Marston’s Arena on Wednesday, at the same time former chairman Mike Connett gave up the keys.

Now club owner Jim Rushe is confident he can open the gates again.

“Friday was a good day,” he said.

“I spoke at great length to Deloitte Touche and they have agreed to let us back in while a deal to purchase the ground is completed.”

The finance experts want a guarantee from Rushe that his consortium has the £1.5m required to buy back the club’s stadium.

A London-based lender, from whom he hopes to secure a bridging loan to make up a shortfall in funding pledged by his group, has agreed to pen a letter backing his application.

“That should happen in the early part of next week, meaning that the stadium can be made ready for the next home game,” said Rushe.

Deloitte will then issue Vics a Licence to Occupy, for which the club will pay a weekly rent to run the site.

The arrangement will cease once Rushe’s consortium is confirmed as new owners of the stadium.

In a further boost, Marston’s Brewery says it too wants to back his bid.

“They have expressed an intention to continue a working relationship with the football club,” added Rushe.

“They will contribute a sizable financial sum subject to certain criteria being met – it’s a big boost.”

Marston’s, granted naming rights to the Victoria Stadium last year by Connett, is owed £150,000 by his firm Beaconet Limited.

The club’s ex-chairman borrowed the six-figure sum shortly after buying the nine-acre plot in 2004.

But his firm was liquidated at London’s High Court last month, leaving the brewery likely to miss out.

Rushe’s consortium has exchanged contracts with Deloitte with a view to a sale being completed quickly.

Club solicitor Howard Roberts this week told the Guardian he was happy with the paperwork, leaving Rushe to concentrate on finding the extra cash.

The ground remains closed and a prohibition order made by Cheshire Trading Standards last month stays in place.

Kettering Town are due to be Vics’ guests on February 24, a game Rushe now believes will be played at the Marston’s Arena.

“That’s my aim right now, “he said.

“I’ve not been making alternative arrangements because I think that match will take place where it should do, which is right there.”