Albion bosses are celebrating after their latest court victory over the right to play at Withdean stadium.

Withdean resident John Catt, 82, tried unsuccessfully to have the planning permission granted by Brighton and Hove City Council in July 2005 quashed by judicial review in the high court.

At the hearing in June, last year, judges dismissed all of Mr Catt's claims. Funded by legal aid, the retired builder and peace campaigner then appealed the decision in the court of appeal.

Lord Justice Pill, Lord Justice Maurice Kay and Lord Justice Wilson heard the appeal in February, and handed down their judgement yesterday.

They found that the planning permission had been granted lawfully by Brighton and Hove City Council, and dismissed Mr Catt's appeal.

Albion Chief Executive Martin Perry said: "This was a vindictive attack on the football club. Even if he had won, his barrister admitted in court that it was likely that the only outcome would be that the club would have to submit another planning application. The appeal judges found again that the city council had acted properly and that planning permission has been granted lawfully.

"All of this is being funded by legal aid. It is a wicked abuse of public money being used to take a pointless case to court which had to be defended by the council at the expense of the council tax payer.

"Even worse for the football club is that we have had to pay to be represented by solicitors and barristers at the hearings and cannot reclaim its costs.

"All of this from John Catt who bought his house after the club moved into Withdean and has sought to wreak havoc in the residents liaison meetings.

"He has cost the club thousands of pounds in legal fees, but he has lost again."

Mr Catt's house is worth £400,000, but he claimed Legal Aid because he lives on a state pension. He yesterday refused to comment when approached by The Argus.