WASPS could find out later today whether their proposed moved to the Ricoh Arena will go ahead.

The Coventry City Council will meet this afternoon and it is expected that on the agenda will be a proposal from Wasps to buy a 90 per cent stake in the stadium.

Wasps' planned move to the Ricoh Arena has provoked a substantial backlash from some sections of their fans, with more than 1,800 supporters signing an online petition against it.

However, the momentum is all heading towards Coventry and an announcement appears to be a case of when not if.

Representatives of the club have already met with the Coventry Sports Foundation, a charity aimed at encouraging more people to play sport, with a view to embedding themselves in the community.

Chief executive of Coventry Sports Foundation Paul Breed said: "They have made it clear they need a home in the community.

"They have a training ground in north London, but they play in High Wycombe – this is about them having a proper home, a place to generate support from the community where they have a presence.

"They are looking for a home in every sense of the word. There would be similarities to when Coventry City relocated to Northampton, but it would be up to Wasps to come up with schemes to help their existing supporters.”

Coventry City and Coventry Rugby Club have also spoken openly about Wasps moving to their city.

City manager Steven Pressley said: "There is obviously already a rugby club within the city and obviously a football club within the city.

“And a decision will have to be made what is best for Coventry as a city moving forward and only the council and the people involved can make that decision."

Meanwhile, Coventry Rugby Club chairman Peter Rossborogh said: "Wasps have seen us twice and have been very agreeable towards us, very honest and open as they could be within the limits of their disclosure agreement. We got on very well with their chairman Derek Richardson.

"I’m not blaming the Wasps at all for this; they have been very good to us, very decent to us. I understand their problems as well.

“We could work together with them I’m sure if they end up coming here. We will just have to wait and see."

However, many supporters from around High Wycombe voiced their concerns at www.thepetitionsite.

Malcolm Caudren: This move wound be disastrous for grass roots rugby in the Chilterns area as we receive an enormous amount of support from the Wasps community team.

Darren Smith: ‘Your nephew has a great future with Wasps!' was the statement used when I was talking to a Wasps Representative. The future will be crushed if Wasps move away from Bucks.

David Kappler: Having followed Wasps since they came to Wycombe and now a box holder, a move to Coventry is a betrayal of the brand and deserves to fail.