The Falmer Inquiry has unexpectedly gone into extra time. Supporters of Brighton and Hove Albion have been granted a further 16 days to save the proposed stadium.

The extension follows controversial comments in the report from a separate public inquiry into the future of Brighton and Hove.

Planning inspector Charles Hoile said last month "a provincial city's professional football club" was not of national importance and should not be built on the South Downs.

His comments in the conclusion to the draft local plan appeared to write off the stadium proposal for Village Way, Falmer.

Stunned supporters deluged Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott with complaints. He has now agreed to allow supplementary evidence to be accepted in response to the claims.

All those who addressed the original hearings, which began in February last year, are being given until April 9 to write in. Their responses may be circulated for further comments.

Mr Prescott has already received planning inspector John Collyer's recommendations on the Falmer bid.

A decision was thought to be imminent but the process means a final result is unlikely much before the end of the soccer season.

A letter sent from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, obtained by The Argus, reads: "Following the close of the inquiry, the First Secretary of State is aware progress has been made on the draft Brighton and Hove Local Plan with publication of the inspector's report.

"As the matters relate to issues arising since the close of the inquiry, the First Secretary of State is inviting the parties and any others who appeared at the inquiry to comment on their content before he proceeds to determine the application.

"He wishes to emphasise representations on the above issues are to enable him to take a fully-informed decision since he has not yet determined the application.

"This letter should not be read as any indication as to his attitude to the proposals generally one way or the other.

"This is not an invitation for parties to restate their case."

The Albion's chief executive, Martin Perry, said: "We have responded to the local plan inspector's report and submitted a letter and report demonstrating where we think it is seriously flawed."

"There are errors of fact, major areas of evidence that have been overlooked and findings that are totally unreasonable or appear to conflict with Government policy.

"Other statements are based on future matters which are not reasonable.

"We cannot look into a crystal ball. Some matters he has simply not addressed.

"We believe Mr Hoile's report should be allocated very little weight in the decision-making process."

Paul Samrah, chairman of the supporters' Falmer For All campaign, said: "I think it's very good news John Prescott's office is sufficiently concerned to be asking for representations to be made."

Falmer resident Richard Scott said: "I thought it was a bit out of order for the club's consultants to write in trying to influence the Secretary of State's deliberations on Falmer."

Wednesday March 24, 2004