Brighton and Hove Albion bosses have accused Falmer stadium opponents of trying to kill the club by stalling the latest process in the long-running saga.

A month ago the Government admitted it made a technical mistake when it approved the 22,000-seat arena and asked the major parties for their permission to quash the planning permission so it could reconsider its decision.

But Lewes District Council, which was challenging the planning permission in the High Court, has still made no announcement on how it intends to respond.

A spokeswoman said as far as the council was concerned, the legal action was continuing and it was awaiting news of a court date.

Albion chief executive Martin Perry said: "Lewes District Council are quite deliberately dragging their feet over this issue even though they gave an undertaking that they wanted the matter resolved quickly.

"It does not take a month to obtain legal advice or take this decision and the dilatory way in which they are treating this issue shows their utter contempt for the club and the fans.

"Their motive is clear. They are trying to defeat the stadium by delaying it as long as possible and they do not care if in doing so they destroy the club."

The council spokeswoman said: "Lewes District Council submitted its evidence to the High Court on December 8 last year. Four months later, Treasury solicitors wrote to the parties offering to submit to judgement on one of our 16 grounds for appeal.

"Lewes District Council and the other parties - Falmer Parish Council and the South Downs Society - met the barrister to take legal advice in April.

"We are now in correspondence and in negotiation with the Treasury solicitor to see if an agreement can be reached.

"We are at the negotiation stage and no decision has yet been taken. It is anticipated a report will be produced for the next cabinet meeting scheduled for June 6 when councillors will make a decision.

"Legal discussions do take time and we have responded to the Treasury solicitors' letter in one month and two days, which is three months quicker than it took the Deputy Prime Minister's office to acknowledge our High Court action."

Falmer For All campaigner Ed Bassford said: "This delay is another disgraceful ploy by Lewes District Council, particularly in view of the public commitment made by planning councillor Neil Commin five months ago that, if the matter reached the High Court, the council would actively seek an early hearing.

"What they are doing now, ie nothing, is reneging on that."