Directors of Brighton & Hove Albion have been advised that legal action by Lewes District Council against John Prescott's decision to give the club's proposed new stadium at Falmer the go ahead could cost the cash-strapped Seagulls a massive £90,000 in legal fees.
The club have been named as a defendant - along with Brighton & Hove City Council and the Government - as Lewes District Council seeks to overturn the decision by Prescott in the High Court.
Chief Executive Martin Perry said, "This is yet another financial burden for the club we could well do without. We have been named as a defendant, and we will be going to court - along with the city council and the Government - to defend ourselves and prove that this decision was made justly.
"Our fans know only too well the lengths that we have gone to in order ensure the decision was made correctly.
"Nothing has changed, it's business as usual and we remain extremely confident that Mr Prescott's decision will be upheld in the High Court and unfortunately the taxpayers in Lewes will be left to bear the brunt of the cost.
"Lewes District Council have named the club as a defendant, and because this we fully expect to recoup our legal costs from LDC, but in the short term we must find that money, which does nothing to help Mark McGhee during the transfer window as he strives to keep the club in the Championship."
Meanwhile Perry has warned Lewes residents could end up paying legal fees for Brighton & Hove City Council and the Government - in addition to their own District Council's costs.
"If, as our legal advisors fully expect, the Judicial Review is unsuccessful Lewes District Council could be left with a legal bill that will run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
"A recent poll by the Argus proved are overwhelmingly number of Lewes residents are in favour of the stadium - yet it seems the council are going to ignore them yet again and use their council tax to pay for this legal action."
