Contracts are due to be signed in the next few days for the Department of Tourism and Leisure to take ownership of the Bowl stadium and car park.

Douglas Borough Council will hand over the facility, on condition it can run the car park as a weekday 'pay-and-display', on an agency basis.

Once the parties have agreed the details, funding for the ?3.4 million redevelopment of the sports venue will still have to be approved by Tynwald, with the aim of completing the work in time for next year's Commonwealth Youth Games.

At this stage the deal is 'subject to contract', but Tourism and Leisure Minister Martyn Quayle is confident that, unlike the aborted 'Wave' project on the former Summerland site, there will be no hitches: