LONDON Welsh rugby team are in talks about buying Oxford's Kassam Stadium.

Managing director John Taylor said the team saw Oxford as its home and wanted to stay there.

Referring to buying the stadium, he said: "We are certainly exploring the possibility. Conversations have been had with Mr Kassam and we are also looking at ways we can raise the money to do it.

"It's a big investment but in some ways it's a good one because it's bricks and mortar."

But Oxford United supporters club OxVox has said it is not good news and said it would like to explore the idea of joint ownership.

London Welsh moved to Oxford last September after gaining promotion to English rugby’s Premiership.

Since moving to the Kassam Stadium the Exiles have attracted both support - with their highest attendance of more than 10,000 at last week’s game against London Wasps - as well as criticism because of claims their tenancy is having an affecting the quality of the pitch and frequent traffic problems before matches.

The 12,500 capacity Kassam Stadium was opened in 2001 and allowed Oxford United to move from the Manor Ground in Headington.

But it is still owned - and named after - the U’s former owner Firoz Kassam who has been leasing it to the club he sold in 2006.

Since then there have been frequent attempts by Oxford United to purchase the stadium from Mr Kassam but negotiations have not yet got under way.