SAINSBURY’S is on the verge of buying the Prospects College site in Fairfax Drive, Southend, a crucial part of the supermarket’s plans to develop Roots Hall.

Neil Bates, chief executive of the college, said an agreement had been drawn up between the supermarket and Prospects.

But Southend United boss Ron Martin said it was a joint deal between Roots Hall Ltd, Sainsbury’s and Prospects.

The Prospects site, along with a parade of shops in Victoria Avenue, will form the access to the planned Roots Hall development which includes a Sainsbury’s supermarket and flats.

The sale of Roots Hall and the other sites will provide the funding for the new 22,000 seater stadium for the club at Fossetts Farm.

The Echo recently revealed the close ties between Southend United and Sainsbury’s as the club were loaned a large sum of money by the supermarket when they faced a £2.1million tax bill. Speaking about the sale of the college site, Mr Bates said the agreement had involved large concessions by Prospects.

He said: “Sainsbury’s were always going to underwrite the acquisition of the site, but in respect of this agreement our contract will be with Sainsbury’s.”

He added representatives from the club had been involved in the negotiations, but said the contract and eventual owners of the site will be Sainsbury’s.

Mr Bates said: “Roots Hall Limited are involved, but they are not physically paying the money.

“We have had three previous agreements which have not happened.”

The cash from the sale will be reinvested in the college, which is a registered charity.

Mr Bates added he hoped the contracts could be signed within two weeks and the college could leave the site by September this year.

The construction courses and head office of Prospects, currently in Fairfax Drive, will move to the new building at Futures College in Southend.

Ron Martin said: “The contract will be with Roots Hall Limited and Sainsbury’s. It’s a joint purchase. They are not allowed to sell to Sainsbury's directly. The deal is that all the site assembly around the site has to be brought in by Roots Hall. Prospects cannot deal directly with Sainsbury’s.

“The college can deal jointly, but not directly with them.

“They are selling to Roots Hall and Sainsbury’s jointly. It’s a joint purchase. We are acting as a partnership.”