SAINSBURY’S claims it is still committed to a deal which forms a key part of Southend United’s future – despite announcing it was dropping many plans for new stores.

The supermarket giant’s positive financial results were released on Wednesday, and revealed its property portfolio had been written-down by £92m after it changed its mind over a number of new store sites.

Under plans for a new stadium, Sainsbury’s would move onto the current Southend ground site at Roots Hall, enabling the club to pay for a new stadium at Fossetts Farm.

But Shrimpers fans can breathe a sigh of relief as the company confirmed it was still backing the Blues.

A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman said: “We are still in negotiations about this site, the details of which are commercially confidential.

“But we have been progressing details around the section 106 and remain committed to the project. Once we are in a position to say more, we will update the local community.”

Rob Craven, press officer of fans group The Shrimpers’ Trust, said: “It sounds like good news if they’ve not decided to cancel this particular project.”

But he cautioned that other fans won’t be too optimistic until building work begins on the new stadium.

“I don’t think everyone will be that pleased until we see building work start at Fossetts Farm, it’s been a really long drawn out process as far as we know things are going on behind the scenes but we’re not really hearing much from the club at the moment.”