A football club boss has denied rumours the club's ground is to be demolished to make way for a housing development.

Worthing FC's president Morty Hollis emphatically told The Argus yesterday there was no truth in the rumour that housing was set for the Woodside Road stadium.

The denial was in addition to a statement made on the club's website.

Mr Hollis, who has been involved with the club since 1943 and is a director of Worthing Sports and Social Club, the company which owns the ground, said: "I have got to be clear about this. There is no planning application at all - it is untrue.

"Somebody started these rumours on the internet and I have had to assure people that it is not true and I have no knowledge of any planning application whatsoever."

A contributor using the name Victor Sylvester on the club's fan forum website started the rumour with a post on Monday.

He wrote: "I don't yet know the full details but have it on good authority that a planning application has been lodged with the council to build houses on the Woodside Road Ground. It is probably an outline planning application but there can now be little doubt that things are moving in that direction."

The message provoked a lot of response from fans angry and concerned over the ground's future.

Nick C wrote: "If there are houses to be built on Woodside Road, I for one am DISGUSTED.

"Firstly, why weren't we told? Secondly, where's the plans for a new ground? Have we the land? Why are we entering into something without plans for the replacement?

"Woodside Road is a fantastic ground. It more than suits our needs, even more now we're playing in a lower division. We don't need a Lego stadium in Goring."

After Mr Hollis's denial on Worthing FC's website, Victor Sylvester was still adamant the plan was real.

In a post on Tuesday he wrote: "I stand by what I have said on this forum. I am not stirring. I acknowledge Morty's statement but I have passed on to you via this forum what I have been told on good authority.

"You can criticise me as much as you like but don't accuse me of telling porkies. Time will probably prove that there is something in all of this and you may all make of it what you will."

The Argus searched the planning database on www.worthing.gov.uk and could not find a residential planning application related to the Woodside Road ground.

Have you heard any rumours regading Woodside Road? Leave your comments below.