Ancient kiln blocks St Helens' stadium switch

St Helens believe that they are a significant step closer to securing their new stadium after receiving unanimous planning permission from their local council last night, although they have run into an unlikely complication over an ancient kiln known as Cannington Shaw No7 Bottle Shop.

The council have made preservation and restoration of the kiln, which is officially designated an ancient monument by English Heritage, one of the conditions for their approval of the scheme when the north-west regional planning office considers whether to send it to London for consideration by the central government in the coming months.

However Langtree, who are Saints' principal partners in the £25m redevelopment of the town's derelict United Glass site, warned that such conditions "could put the whole financial viability of the scheme at odds with our ability to deliver".

The St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus remains confident that a compromise will be reached. "This is wonderful news for the club, its supporters and for the town of St Helens," he said. "We now look forward to a similar positive outcome from the government office for the north west." Meanwhile the Saints coach Daniel Anderson yesterday expressed his frustration at the latest injury absence of the club's captain Paul Sculthorpe, whose most recent comeback ended with a pectoral tear at Warrington on April 25, and who will again be missing from their trip to Hull next Sunday.

Garreth Carvell, the powerful prop who is expected to join St Helens next season, should return to the Hull team after three months out with knee ligament damage. That was not the only good news for Hull's acting coach Richard Agar in his first day since taking temporary charge following the departure of Peter Sharp, as fears that the club's former Great Britain scrum half Richard Horne may never play again receded.

Horne, who suffered a neck injury at Bradford on April 4, was told by a neurosurgeon yesterday that he is making encouraging progress, although he will continue wearing a brace until his next appointment in July. Hull KR's utility back Ben Cockayne and the Warrington prop Rob Parker both escaped suspension at last night's disciplinary hearings.