A PLEA for the district council to grant Bromsgrove Rovers a new long-term lease on their Victoria Ground came this week from the leader of the Labour group in a bid to save the club from folding.

Cllr Peter McDonald (Uffdown and Waseley) has put forward a motion for the next meeting of Bromsgrove District Council's policy and resources committee on February 14.

He said: "In 1947 the ground was left in trust to the council for use by the Rovers. The council's dilly-dallying and not renewing the lease is putting the club's future in jeopardy."

Club boss Pat Bannister says Rovers' days could be numbered unless they can prove to a Liverpool court on Monday -- which is set to hear a Customs and Excise demand for £18,000 from the club -- that a lease is forthcoming.

A lease should guarantee cash from a new consortium headed by Bannister to pay off the debt.

The long-term future of the Birmingham Road ground is tied up with a £2.5m deal between the council, which owns the land, and ASDA.

The deal includes the supermarket giant giving the council £1m in return for a guarantee that it will never be sold to a rival.

Council leader Cllr Nick Psirides (Con, Norton) confirmed a new lease would be granted as soon as the ASDA deal was sewn up.

A meeting between the two sides is expected to take place within the next three weeks, he added.

It emerged this week the club owes the district council £12,000 in unpaid business rates. Bannister said the new investors would pay off all the club's debts.