Supporters have been told of fresh delays in the construction of a new ground for Brighton and Hove Albion.
Workers are not expected to begin work on the £50million Falmer stadium until December at the earliest - a month later than expected.
The delay comes after the tendering process to find a contractor took longer than expected.
advertisementThe club hopes to kick off the 2010/11 season in the 22,500-seat arena.
But news of a further delay comes as a blow to thousands of Seagulls fans who have already endured more than a decade without a permanent home.
Albion chief executive Martin Perry admitted there had been a "slight slip" in the agenda but moved to reassure supporters that the stadium is not under threat.
He said: "There has been a slight slip time wise but we are still aiming to be on site by the end of the year.
"The message to supporters is not to worry - the stadium is on its way."
Three major contractors have been invited to submit detailed "design and build" tender documents to the club but an announcement on the decision will not be made until September.
One of the contractors competing for the project is the Buckingham Group, which built the impressive 22,000-seat MK Dons stadium in Milton Keynes and an extension at Manchester United's Old Trafford ground.
Mr Perry, who is leading the 30-strong stadium project team, said: "This is another major milestone reached.
"We have selected three contractors to tender for the work and they are currently preparing their proposals.
"The funding of the stadium is a similar process and we have had a lot of interest from banks, we are now putting together a more detailed financial plan to put to them."
The two other contractors bidding to build the stadium have also both had experience of building stadia in England, which would appear to rule out Portslade-based Adenstar, although the firm has undertaken major contracts at Withdean, Albion's temporary home.
Laing O'Rourke, which is building Cardiff City's new stadium, and Carillion, which built Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and Huddersfield Town's Galpharm Stadium, have both ruled themselves out.
Other possible contenders include Amec, which was behind Eastlands in Manchester, and Barr which built the St Mary's stadium in Southampton.
Kevin Underwood, director of the Buckingham Group, said: "We are putting together our tender document and will have it back to the club in July.
"It is an impressive design and we would love to build it. If the money is there it can be built in two years, or maybe just under that."
The Argus told in February how the club has asked the city council to extend its lease at Withdean until 2011.
The club is hoping to continue to use Withdean to host youth, reserve and women's team matches and will use the extra year to revert the stadium back for use by the council.
The proposal will come before the city council's planning committee on Wednesday next week.
Eight letters of objection and 94 letters of support were sent to the council, and planning officers have recommended the application is approved.
Paul Samrah, chairman of the Falmer For All campaign, said fears over the credit crunch delaying the stadium further were unfounded.
He said: "If anything the current financial climate is playing into the club's hands. Building contracts are being cancelled left right and centre which strengthens the club's position when agreeing a tender price, and also means the contractor should be available to start when we need them to."
4:56pm today
Workers are not expected to begin work on the £50million Falmer stadium until December at the earliest - a month later than expected.
The delay comes after the tendering process to find a contractor took longer than expected.
advertisementThe club hopes to kick off the 2010/11 season in the 22,500-seat arena.
But news of a further delay comes as a blow to thousands of Seagulls fans who have already endured more than a decade without a permanent home.
Albion chief executive Martin Perry admitted there had been a "slight slip" in the agenda but moved to reassure supporters that the stadium is not under threat.
He said: "There has been a slight slip time wise but we are still aiming to be on site by the end of the year.
"The message to supporters is not to worry - the stadium is on its way."
Three major contractors have been invited to submit detailed "design and build" tender documents to the club but an announcement on the decision will not be made until September.
One of the contractors competing for the project is the Buckingham Group, which built the impressive 22,000-seat MK Dons stadium in Milton Keynes and an extension at Manchester United's Old Trafford ground.
Mr Perry, who is leading the 30-strong stadium project team, said: "This is another major milestone reached.
"We have selected three contractors to tender for the work and they are currently preparing their proposals.
"The funding of the stadium is a similar process and we have had a lot of interest from banks, we are now putting together a more detailed financial plan to put to them."
The two other contractors bidding to build the stadium have also both had experience of building stadia in England, which would appear to rule out Portslade-based Adenstar, although the firm has undertaken major contracts at Withdean, Albion's temporary home.
Laing O'Rourke, which is building Cardiff City's new stadium, and Carillion, which built Arsenal's Emirates Stadium and Huddersfield Town's Galpharm Stadium, have both ruled themselves out.
Other possible contenders include Amec, which was behind Eastlands in Manchester, and Barr which built the St Mary's stadium in Southampton.
Kevin Underwood, director of the Buckingham Group, said: "We are putting together our tender document and will have it back to the club in July.
"It is an impressive design and we would love to build it. If the money is there it can be built in two years, or maybe just under that."
The Argus told in February how the club has asked the city council to extend its lease at Withdean until 2011.
The club is hoping to continue to use Withdean to host youth, reserve and women's team matches and will use the extra year to revert the stadium back for use by the council.
The proposal will come before the city council's planning committee on Wednesday next week.
Eight letters of objection and 94 letters of support were sent to the council, and planning officers have recommended the application is approved.
Paul Samrah, chairman of the Falmer For All campaign, said fears over the credit crunch delaying the stadium further were unfounded.
He said: "If anything the current financial climate is playing into the club's hands. Building contracts are being cancelled left right and centre which strengthens the club's position when agreeing a tender price, and also means the contractor should be available to start when we need them to."
4:56pm today
