Football supporter Lord Bassam has written to John Prescott calling on him to be bold and brave over a crucial planning decision.

It is likely the Deputy Prime Minister will have to decide whether or not Brighton and Hove Albion's plans for a community stadium at Falmer will get the green light.

A planning inspector who held an inquiry into the city's Local Plan has ruled against it and a second inspector, who presided over an inquiry into the stadium, is believed to have put his report before Mr Prescott.

Lord Bassam of Brighton has delivered a detailed letter of several thousand words to John Prescott.

He said: "As an ardent fan and former council leader I do feel I have some unique insights into the issues.

"It is my view that now is the time to be bold and brave in taking a decision which people in the city have anxiously awaited for six years and more. Few will understand a refusal, particularly when there is so much support for the current plans."

Lord Bassam said the temporary stadium at Withdean was not good enough and added: "There is a need for a state-of-the-art, modern stadium providing decent facilities for supporters."

He outlined the problems with Withdean and said it would have to close when it had to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

The club has also been hampered by the small capacity at Withdean.

Lord Bassam said: "Last year, when the club was playing in the First Division, gate receipts rose by a mere £40,000 but costs rose by nearly £1 million."

Lord Bassam said it was unthinkable the club should move outside Brighton and Hove where it had been for 103 years.

The four possible sites detailed by the Local Plan inspector as possibilities all had huge problems.

He said: "I find the recommendation by the Local Plan Inspector that Sheepcote Valley presents fewer problems than Village Way extraordinary given the evidence concerning traffic impact and current planning policy guidance on sustainable transport."

Lord Bassam said the Falmer site was not really on proper downland and the stadium would be built partly on land already covered with poor-quality buildings.

Removing these buildings would enable Brighton University to replace them with modern ones on its campus.

There would be little new parking and many fans would come to the ground by public transport.

Lord Bassam said the scheme would bring great benefits to parts of East Brighton that suffered from deprivation and create more than 1,000 jobs.

He also pointed out that Albion had a community programme that would be lost if the club had to move away.

Lord Bassam said overwhelming public support for the stadium project had been proved in the city, including by a referendum.

The club had also produced a petition with more than 61,000 people in favour.