Plans for a new £25million Blues stadium will NOT be decided upon by councillors this month as scheduled, it has emerged.

It is almost three years since Southend United’s chairman Ron Martin lodged an application for the 21,000-seater stadium at Fossetts Farm, off Eastern Avenue, Southend.

An agreed extension for the plan to go before the development control committee expires on March 31 but in a joint statement Southend Council and the club said this would now be extended.

Carole Mulroney, councillor responsible for the environment and planning and Ron Martin, chairman of Southend United Football Club said: “The application for a new football stadium and associated facilities is the single largest and most complex planning application in the town for a number of years.

“Its impact on the borough as a whole could be quite profound, so it needs very careful consideration.

"It is in the interests of both the council and the football club that the planning application is as robust and thorough as it can be so that the development control committee can make an informed decision and ensure it benefits the town as a whole.”

The statement added: “For this reason, we have again mutually agreed to allow extra time for further work to be carried out on the application and we will continue to work closely together during this period to resolve any outstanding planning issues.

“To reiterate, both parties are working hard and positively together and we hope to be in a position to make positive announcements soon.”

The application includes plans for flats, shops, restaurants and a hotel. More than 400 homes are also planned at Roots Hall.

Council leader Ian Gilbert said: “The council and the football club remain in very productive conversations.

"While we are all aware of the financial difficulties that the club is in, we are still hopeful we can get both projects moving.”