BROMSGROVE District Council have denied claims that they are stalling on granting troubled Bromsgrove Rovers a new lease on their Victoria Ground home.

The club faces a winding-up order in Liverpool on Monday from HM Customs and Excise, who are demanding £18,000.

Rovers say they can pay off the bill if the council grant them a new seven-year lease, which would enable chief executive Pat Bannister's consortium to take over the club and raise the necessary funds to pay off the debt.

Bob Lewis, the council's corporate director, met with solicitors last week representing Asda, who want to extend their adjacent store in the town, to discuss the lease, and the matter may not be resolved for up to four weeks.

Mr Lewis said: "The council has agreed in principle to grant them a renewal of the lease, but the finalisation of that awaits completion of negotiation of other matters.

"There is also a concern that the Rovers owe to the council a not inconsiderable amount of money, and the council will expect the Rovers to address this matter before concluding a new lease."

Bromsgrove council leader Nick Psirides said that Rovers' previous lease had expired two years ago. "We have never served them with an eviction notice or asked for payment of the business rate, which we are entitled to do.

"We are very sympathetic with the case and will do everything we can to help them."

Mr Bannister has asked for a written assurance from the council that the lease will be granted, in the hope that the winding-up order can be delayed to enable his consortium to raise enough funds to pay the debt.

He said: "We have been hearing the same thing for two years. It is another stalling tactic. We believe they have a hidden agenda.

"We have to see if they are prepared to put anything in writing to ask Customs and Excise to postpone the order. If that does not happen, the club will close."