Hammersmith and Fulham Council today revealed they want Chelsea to stay at Stamford Bridge and will work with the club on ways to expand the ground.

Last week Chelsea failed in a bid to buy the freehold of the ground back off Chelsea Pitch Owners, which if they had succeeded, would have given them the freedom to move the club to a new site. Now the local council is looking to help the club increase the 42,000 capacity at the ground.

"In light of the recent decision by Chelsea Pitch Owners to retain its freehold of the ground, we reaffirm our desire to see Chelsea remain in the borough," Hammersmith and Fulham Council said in a statement.

"The council now proposes to examine whether there are planning options to expand Stamford Bridge."

Chelsea today welcomed the news. In a statement, the club said: "We will be happy to meet borough officials to discuss this further and especially their desire to see us stay at Stamford Bridge."