A PIECE of land which has held up the relocation of Southend United's home ground for a decade has finally been bought - but mystery surrounds who by.

The former Prospects College site in Fairfax Drive, Southend, was long held to be the last major obstacle to Southend United’s sale of Roots Hall and the relocation of the stadium to Fossetts Farm.

However a stalemate between prospective buyer Sainsbury's and the college effectively derailed the project. That was until British Land stepped in last year to fund the move - which would see a shopping centre, cinema, and stadium built at Fossetts Farm.

Prospects principal and chief executive Neil Bates said: “After ten years of unsuccessful negotiations, countless failed agreements, and six years of holding a building unoccupied, the college has finally agreed a sale with a company who have stepped in and acquired the site.

“We are very pleased that we can now draw a line under this saga and focus on other things. To be clear the site could have been acquired by those that wanted to develop Roots Hall but they chose not to do so. I have no insight into why they did not do so.”

However, Mr Bates would not disclose who was the buyer of the site, nor for what sum, only that the transaction had taken place subject to contract, was expected to be completed next month, and was unconditional – meaning it was not dependent on planning permission or any other factors.

Despite all three parties at one point expressing an interest in purchasing the site, the Echo understands neither Southend Council, Southend United, nor Sainsburys – or any other food retailer – are the buyer.

Sainsburys had already agreed to buy flats at St Mary’s Court in Victoria Avenue, bulldoze the buildings and relocate the residents, as well as buy out the remaining shops on Victoria Avenue – with only the Prospects site standing in the way of the deal.

Southend United boss Ron Martin announced last October that British Land were involved in the plan for a new 21,000 seat stadium, 131 room hotel, offices, restaurants, cinema, and homes at Fossetts Farm.