HELSTON ATHLETIC have had no formal approach from Truro City regarding a possible groundshare, despite rumours to the contrary.

Following news that the Treyew Road site has been approved for retail development, reports suggested that Helston were one of three clubs who could host the Vanarama National League South team next season.

Helston Athletic chairman Paul Hendy said: “We have not heard anything from Truro regarding a ground share, but obviously we would be silly not to listen to a proposal that could be beneficial to both parties if they did get in touch.

“We are a committee-run club so it would be something for them to consider, but as chairman it would be interesting to hear what they have to say."

A potential share would involve making ground improvements in line with the standard at which City play. One such upgrade would be to have hard standing on all four sides of the pitch.

"We only have hard standing on two sides at the moment and as a club we don't have the finances to do the other two sides, but it could be something to consider if the ground share took place," added Hendy.

As part of the deal to relocate, Cornwall’s highest ranked club will be given £2 million to spend.

Potentially that would go towards the proposed Stadium for Cornwall, but work has not started on the £10 million project because the funding has not yet been raised.

That would leave open the possibility of a groundshare, after the county council’s planning committee approved the application from Helical Retail Ltd just before Christmas.

The application by Helical Retail Ltd for the Treyew Road scheme was approved by nine votes to three at the planning meeting, with two abstentions.

German giants Lidl will come to the site along with other retail stores, which will almost certainly mean City will have to vacate the premises at the end of this season.

Ground sharing can only take place for two seasons before City would have to relocate again, but it could buy them valuable time to develop the Stadium for Cornwall together with Cornish Pirates and Truro and Penwith College.

Last June, Cornish Pirates announced that Mark Evans, the former Saracens Director of Rugby, and Harlequins and Melbourne Storm CEO, would be the project leader.

He hoped that there would be a “spade in the ground” by the summer of 2018.