Brighton Chairman Dick Knight has hit back at Lewes District Council chiefs who have suggested the announcement that stadium plans will be delayed for an extra year is a red herring.
Speaking in an exclusive webcast on Seagulls World, Knight said, "We had to go on record this week to say it is going to cost us another year - thank you Lewes District Council. Thanks for your contribution to Sussex sport."
Simon Barnes, of Falmer Parish Council, which is acting jointly with Lewes District Council in seeking a Judicial Review of the planning permission, told the Argus, "It is a smoke screen.
"I suspect the real reason for the delay is that the football club has not been able to raise adequate finance to get this stadium started and they are simply blaming us through convenience."
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Albion chief-executive Martin Perry |
Knight's view was backed by Chief Executive Martin Perry. He explained, "This is a silly unhelpful comment. We have said all along that we can't finalise the funding until planning permission is finally given.
"We want to get to Falmer as soon as possible, because our fans and the team are suffering at Withdean - and financially it is costing the club thousands of pounds each week in lost revenue."
Knight also revealed he expects the case to go to court in the summer, adding, "We haven't yet received a date, but we think realistically it will be in June, but we don't have an inside track on this."
The Seagulls World webcast with Dick Knight, which also includes exclusive interviews with Paul McShane and Charlie Oatway, was recorded as live this afternoon at the BBC's Brighton Studios.
It can heard exclusively on Seagulls World from 5pm this evening - and will also be available to download on seagulls.co.uk early next week.
The most popular question to Knight was about the club's attempts to bring in a new striker, and he revealed "We have been working really hard to bring someone in. We've been trying to get someone experienced.
"We've had discussions with Neil Shipperley and Neil Warnock, but the player wants to stay there [Sheffield United] until the end of the season. We may be able to get him in the close season."
He also revealed that Clyde's Tom Brighton was a major target, adding, "He's one that we're keeping tabs on with a view to a possible move this summer. Rory Fallon was another we watched and wanted to bring in."
