PLANS for Southend United to move from Roots Hall to a new home have been cast into further doubt after neighbouring Prospects College decided to sell up.

Plans for a new 22,000-seater stadium at Fossetts Farm have rumbled on for more than a decade with supermarket giant Sainsbury’s bankrolling the move by planning to build a store on the Roots Hall site.

However, that proposal hinged on the supermarket chain buying the old Prospects College, in Fairfax Drive.

Now Neil Bates, the college’s principal, claims to have sold the land to someone else after getting fed up with Sainsbury’s failing to sign a deal with him seven times in seven years.

Mr Bates’s actions could leave the Blues in limbo even though Southend Council has previously agreed to buy the college site using a Compulsory Purchase Order to speed up the deal.

However, a defiant Mr Bates said: “We gave a further opportunity to Sainsbury’s to acquire our site before entering a contract with the current purchasers and this was also declined.

“In these circumstances talk of a CPO are a complete nonsense.”

Mr Bates would not reveal who he had sold to, but said the site’s new owners would be unveiled in the new year.

Lib Dem Graham Longley, deputy leader of Southend Council, said: “If Mr Bates is not careful, he’ll be known as the person who killed Southend United.”

Because the contract is being finalised the college has stopped fans from parking on the car park in the college.

Southend Council leader Ron Woodley said he was disappointed with the news, but claims Blues chairman, Ron Martin, has said the new stadium could still go ahead without Sainsbury’s, but would not give more details.

Mr Woodley said: “I’m very disappointed, but I understand the new stadium could still be an option. I believe the college has had compensation payments from Sainsbury’s for them missing their deadlines, but I would ask Mr Bates, does he support Southend United moving or not?”

Sainsbury's - our plans haven't changed

SAINSBURY’S claims its plans for a megastore in Southend remain unchanged, despite losing out on a key piece of land.

Neil Bates, the principal of the college, claims he gave the supermarket a last chance to buy the site after an option to buy it lapsed in January.

When challenged on the apparent sale, Sainsbury’s did not respond.

A month ago, a Sainsbury’s spokesman told the Echo: “We are constantly reviewing our portfolio to ensure our plans are suitable for the business and for our customers.

“Our plans for Southend remain unchanged. As we make progress, we will update the local community.”

Fans demand answers

LONG-SUFFERING Blues fans have called for clarity over the Sainsbury’s deal to finally put their minds at rest following 15 years of hurt.

Ken Jarvis, who leads up Southend fanzine Shrimperzone, said: “We’ve been waiting for 15 years for this and it looks less likely as each day passes.

“The moment things become certain will be a nice moment, whether it is good or bad.

“Things are so uncertain that it would be good if there’s an announcement which puts fans’ minds at rest.”

Some fans have also been left infuriated after Prospects College told them during Saturday’s game with Northampton they could no longer park in a car park on the site. The college claims it only renewed that particular deal with the club on a week-by-week basis.

Season ticket holder Stephen Smith, 60, has to travel 140 miles to Roots Hall from Surrey, and said: “It’s quite an inconvenience as it just adds on extra minutes to my road trip.

“To be given a letter on the day saying we can no longer park there is frustrating.”

Fellow season ticket holder Mark Wallis, 32, from Maldon, added: “If the Sainsbury’s deal has fallen through, how’s that going to leave the club?”

Nobody from Southend United or club chairman Ron Martin were available for comment when approached by the Echo.