Leyton Orient fans have been granted official rights to buy The Matchroom Stadium if the ground is ever sold after it was made a community asset.

The stadium in Brisbane Road has become an Asset of Community Value (ACV) after an application by the Leyton Orient Fans’ Trust (LOFT) to Waltham Forest council.

ACV status gives interested community groups such as LOFT the option of organising a buyout of the ground should it be put up for sale.

A community group would have six weeks to register an interest and then up to six months to organise a bid should they choose to do so.

Brisbane Road is the latest of a number of grounds to be granted ACV status and one of the first to be registered in Waltham Forest after The Heathcote Pub in Leytonstone.

LOFT members agreed last season in principle to pursue an ACV application, which was finalised and submitted in September.

I a confirmation letter the council said the ground “furthers the social wellbeing and social interests of the local community, and that the land and building is of community value”.

Brisbane Road is still owned by former chairman Barry Hearn's company Matchroom Sports Ltd.

Doug Harper, LOFT chairman, said: “LOFT is very pleased that Waltham Forest council has granted our application for Brisbane Road to become an ACV.

“It should give some comfort to O’s fans that in the event of any worst case scenario regarding our home, we will have a chance to protect it. This puts LOFT once again at the forefront of protecting fans’ interests.”

Brisbane Road will now be listed by Waltham Forest under section 95(1) of the 2011 Localism Act. Under the Act, an owner must inform the council if they wish to sell the asset.

The owner of the ground has eight weeks to appeal against the decision.

LOFT was helped by Supporters Direct, the fans' organisation that promotes community ownership of clubs.