A DEVELOPMENT firm offered £4.5m for Bromsgrove Rovers' Victoria Ground as a site for a supermarket as long ago as August 1999 -- it was revealed this week.

But, according to the leader of the opposition Labour group on Bromsgrove District Council, Cllr Peter McDonald, he and his fellow councillors were never told of the bid by the authority's chiefs.

Meanwhile, the council is in talks with supermarket giant ASDA, which is prepared to give £1m to the council in return for a guarantee the ground is never sold to a rival.

Cllr McDonald (Uffdown and Waseley) says he now has evidence that Cheshire-based developers Morbaine made the offer, but were told by council chiefs that "a committee" had turned it down.

Cllr McDonald said the offer is still on the table.

"In the light of recent disclosures, ASDA'S £1m offer seems paltry," he said.

"I have now called in the council's auditors, KPMG, to investigate ASDA'S offer for a second time as I have never been satisfied from the start that taxpayers were getting a good deal.

Recently, the Advertiser-/Messenger revealed details of the Morbaine offer which includes them building a new stadium for Bromsgrove Rovers FC.

Cllr McDonald said he planned to raise the matter at a meeting of the full council last night.

Council leader Cllr Nick Psirides (Con, Norton) said: "The Victoria Ground was let to the people of Bromsgrove as an open recreation space.

"As long as I am leader, I will honour that undertaking whatever price Morbaine or anyone else offers.

"The ground is not for sale."