Brighton forced to delay stadium

The stadium decision has been challenged by Lewes District Council

Brighton have been forced to put back the opening of their planned new stadium by a year, because of a legal challenge by Lewes District Council.

"Because of the challenge, we have had to delay the construction," Seagulls chief executive Martin Perry explained.

"Therefore, the completion will be delayed by a year until the start of the 2009/10 season.

"It's disappointing, because the club will continue to incur further costs and losses until it is completed."

The Championship club's plans for a 23,000-seater ground at Falmer had been approved by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott on 28 October 2005.

The determination of the fans has got us this far, so we won't give up Albion chief executive Martin Perry

However, the legal challenge was mounted a month later, and the club have claimed that it may cost them up to £90,000 in legal fees to defend the action.

Perry feels that the council are not acting in the local community's best interests, and has warned that the club's future may be threatened.

"How can they say they have the best interests of the community at heart?" he said.

"We have just come back from FA headquarters, where we were involved in the 'Heading for Success' project, celebrating the work done by clubs in the community, and the tremendous work done by Brighton & Hove Albion.

"And Lewes are damaging that work by challenging the decision. All they can do is delay the project because the decision has been made by Mr Prescott, and when it comes back to him he is not going to change his mind.

"So one has got to ask 'Are they trying to put us under?' and defeat the stadium project that way, because the only outcome they can achieve is a delay.

Brighton have been hampered by the cramped facilities at Withdean

"But the determination of the fans and the staff at the club has got us this far, so we won't give up."

However, Lewes District Council leader Ann de Vecchi insists that their quarrel is with Prescott rather than the club - and blames the Deputy Prime Minister for the delays to the legal challenge.

"John Prescott's response is long overdue," she said.

"He has had plenty of time to respond to the combined challenge of Lewes District Council, Falmer Parish Council and the South Downs Society.

"Our case is against John Prescott's failure to apply his own government's planning policies, not against the club.

"There is no need for the club to spend any money on the court action because it is up to John Prescott to defend his decision. No one else can do it for him."

Brighton have played at the Withdean athletics stadium since 1999.