Blue Square Premier club Rushden and Diamonds have agreed a proposal with Milton Keynes that could see their ground used as a training facility if the city is chosen to host matches in England’s 2018 bid.

Rushden’s Nene Park has already been given official status as a training centre for the 2012 Olympics and may see World Cup action if Stadium MK is given the green light to be a part of England’s bid.

Keith Cousins, Rushden and Diamonds chairman, said: “This is great news for the club and for the whole area. We are building a very good relationship with the Dons. Of course, the 2018 World Cup finals are a long way off and we don’t even know if they’ll be played in England. But the preparation for these major events must be put in place now. This is fantastic for the club going forward and let’s hope the bid is successful.”

Helen Thompson, Rushden Managing Director, added: “At the moment international sporting bodies are looking at various sites including our wonderful facilities. Obviously we’re hoping football will be the main sport here but we’ve got authorisation for other events as well.”