The High Court appeal against the Falmer stadium plan is likely to delay the start of building work on the £50 million scheme, Albion bosses have revealed.

Chief executive Martin Perry said he had no idea when Lewes District Council's bid to force a Judicial Review against the 22,000-seat stadium planning permission would be heard by a judge.

He feared any prolonged court proceedings could delay the project and place the football club under further financial strain.

Mr Perry said no work could begin on site until the legal action had run its course.

He said: "We are proceeding with as much preparatory work as we can but until we get this matter resolved we cannot predict when we will be in a position to commence work on site."

The Albion had targeted October this year to start building the new arena but that timescale now looks uncertain.

Mr Perry said claims the court case would be heard in June were pure speculation: "I do not know where this date is coming from. At this stage we still do not know when it will go to court or how long it will take.

"I have no doubt that the stadium will be built. We will get permission but it could be that by causing further delays, Lewes hope we will be unable to sustain further losses and the extra costs we will incur if the stadium is delayed.

"Is their real agenda to try to defeat the stadium by putting the football club out of business? All I can say is, having fought for the last eight years and with the support of our unbelievable fans, we are not going to let Lewes stand in our way, despite the obstacles they try to put in front of us."

Despite the setback the club is still targeting the beginning of the 2008/09 football season to move into its new home.

A spokeswoman for Lewes District Council denied using delaying tactics and said the timescale was in the hands of the court and the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister, which is the main defendant.

She said: "We are ready to go and we have asked for the earliest possible court hearing.

"As we understand it the court will issue a hearing date when it receives the defence papers from the ODPM. June is our estimate based on the time it generally takes for things to get to court once action has begun but that is by no means certain."

The ODPM said: "We are awaiting a hearing date from the court, after which we will exchange our skeleton legal arguments. Any delays in the process are not down to the ODPM."