LEADING councillors will consider if there is still a “strong case” to forcibly buy up an old college site to allow Southend United’s new stadium to go ahead.

Southend Council’s cabinet will review a proposed compulsory purchase order for the former Prospects College, in Fairfax Drive, which forms a key part of the redevelopment of the Blues’ existing home, Roots Hall.

Sainsbury’s is still thought to be keen on building a superstore on Roots Hall, which would allow the company to help bankroll the League One club’s move to Fossetts Farm, Southend.

Sainsbury’s has been in the background for eight years, hoping to redevelop Roots Hall.

But Prospects’ principal Neil Bates said the stalemate and spectre of a compulsory purchase order had blighted his land.

The council voted to buy the land in 2012, but never carried out the threat, and now the council’s cabinet will meet on Tuesday to discuss if the authority will continue with that course of action.

Independent Ron Woodley, leader of Southend Council, said: “The original decision hasn’t lapsed, but we feel it might have been weakened over the years. The report to cabinet will assess whether there is still a strong cas .

“But we have got to make sure we don’t put the council in a position that costs the taxpayer a substantial amount of money.

“If it isn’t done correctly, and we have a weak case, then that could be challenged and could cost the council a lot of money.”

The former Tory administration, and the current leadership, have all backed plans to move the Blues’ home.

But Sainsbury’s has let a contract giving it the option to buy the former college lapse seven times in seven years.

Mr Bates has called on the council to either lift the threat of a compulsory purchase order, or put its money where its mouth is.

He said: “We want it to act one way or another – if it wants to use a CPO then use it, or if it it doesn’t think it is possible withdraw it, as it can’t leave it in the background floating, as it is blighting the sale of our land.

“It remains baffling. If it thinks the CPO is necessary as Sainsbury’s still wants to build on Roots Hall, then why doesn’t Sainsbury’s buy our land? All it needs to do is pick up the phone to me.”

The Blues are preparing a new planning application for Fossetts Farm, which could include a tower block of homes and a cinema, as well as the 22,000-seat venue.

Club chairman Ron Martin claims to have a new backer for the scheme, but it is unknown how much involvement Sainsbury’s would have in bankrolling the plans.

A spokesman for the supermarket said: “We are continuing to discuss plans for a store with the football club, the nature of which are commercially sensitive.”

A TAKEAWAY business would move if the supermarket plan goes ahead, but workers doubt the store will ever materialise.

Super Pizza, on the corner of Victoria Avenue and Fairfax Drive, would have to make way if Sainsbury’s build a superstore on Roots Hall.

But the takeaway’s Imran Khan said he was not confident the supermarket giant would follow through on its proposals to build over the stadium.

He said: “We would be willing to sell up, as we’re a franchise anyway.

“Sainsbury’s would have to speak to the franchisee, plus the landlord of the building, as well as the manager of the business.

“I didn’t think Sainsbury’s wanted to build on this site any more.

“At one point, they did, but I thought they didn’t have the money for it any more and we hadn’t heard anything for a good while.

“But if they came to us, we’d be happy to talk with them.”