Discount supermarket chain Lidl is set to move on to the Prospects College site in Southend, potentially scuppering a new Blues stadium.

The Echo understands Lidl has signed a deal with Neil Bates, the college’s principal, for its old site in Fairfax Drive.

Earlier this week we revealed Mr Bates had signed a deal which potentially ends Sainsbury’s interests in building a new supermarket on Roots Hall.

This in turn could scupper Southend United’s plans for a new 22,000-seat stadium at Fossetts Farm.

However, we can now reveal Lidl are in the frame for the new store with Mr Bates claiming he had to get the best deal possible for the old college site.

Ken Jarvis, of Southend United fans forum Shrimperzone, fears for the future home of his club. He said: “Unless someone comes in to build a new stadium, I can’t see where we are going at all.

“It would defy logic for Sainsbury’s to build a store on Roots Hall when it has Lidl in its back garden.

“The plot thickens. Maybe Roots Hall will become housing now, as I can’t see it becoming another supermarket.”

Mr Bates said several retailers were interested in his site and he went for the best deal after failing to reach an agreement with Sainsbury’s seven times in seven years.

Sainsbury’s would need some of the Prospects land to create an entrance and exit to its new store.

Mr Bates said: “We are simply a charitable education college and we need to get back the best value for the site and move on.

“I would not be surprised if the stadium plans rumbled on for ten more years.

“There were a number of retailers interested in our site and we have reached terms with one of them, but I am bound to confidentiality in a lockout agreement, so I can’t confirm or deny who it is.

“The agreement means we agree not to negotiate with anyone else, while they carry out the likes of asbestos surveys on the site. The contracts are ready, but they will not be signed until the New Year.”

Lidl has denied the deal, but rival chain Aldi, who had also looked at the site, said it was a Lidl store.

An Aldi spokesman said: “We have been informed by our property team this is a Lidl store.”

There are two Lidl stores in the borough – one in Woodgrange Drive, and another off Sutton Road. A Lidl spokeswoman said: “We are looking at a number of different sites in Southend as we are interested in the area as a whole, however we have not identified any specific sites as yet.”

Southend United chairman Ron Martin declined to comment on the Prospects College, but maintains the Blues will move to a new stadium.

Timescale of delays

JANUARY 2007: Southend Council gives planning approval for a £100million development, including the 22,000-seat stadium, a hotel, and shops. Ron Martin says it could be done by the 2008-09 season. The Bank of Scotland was funding the scheme.

MARCH 2008: The plans, which were called in by the Secretary of State, are given Government approval in March, but Ron Martin now says the stadium could be done by the 2010-11 season. The same month, the full impact of the global recession becomes apparent.

APRIL 2010: With no new stadium on the horizon, the club agrees to pay £6million as a sweetner to offset the damage 20,000 square meters of shops at Fossetts Farm will do to Southend High Street.

FEBRUARY 2011: The club submits a scaled-back version of the stadium, with 14,000 capacity. The remaining 8,000 is due to be completed later on. Sainsbury’s is revealed as the main backer and the proposals are given the green light.

JULY 2012: Ron Martin pledges the ground will be built in 2013.

DECEMBER 2012: The proposals go back to development control after the club sought to downsize its sweetner to just £2.25million to protect the high street. This is deferred.

APRIL 2013: Council agrees to reduce the sweetner, but only to £3.5million, with the club arguing the recession has made a £6million cash offer unviable.

JANUARY 2014: Sainsbury’s fails to renew its option to buy the old Prospect’s College site, despite re-negotiating the contract seven times in seven years.

FEBRUARY 2014: Ron Martin claims the work on the stadium will begin in May. It doesn’t.

NOVEMBER 2014: Prospects reveals Sainsbury’s has declined a final offer to buy the site, so college officials begin advanced negotiations with other retailers.

DECEMBER 2014: A buyer is found, and that buyer is believed to be Lidl.