Council leader Ken Bodfish says he wants Brighton and Hove Albion to celebrate with a double this year.

He hopes the football club will achieve its second successive promotion, this time to Division One.

The Brighton and Hove City Council leader also says there are moves towards agreement on the contentious issue of a community stadium at Falmer.

Albion have submitted plans to the council for sites at Village Way North and Village Way South at Falmer.

Councillor Bodfish said there was no way he wished to influence the planning process under which councillors will consider the stadium plans on its own merits.

But he said: "Everything is beginning to come together for the community stadium."

He suggested the political will was there because the ruling Labour group was largely united on the issue.

Coun Bodfish said: "We have to get moving because we have a responsibility to the club and, more importantly, the fans to get something positive from this as soon as possible.

"There has to be a positive outcome for the club. The city needs a successful football club. We have the responsibility as a city to do whatever we can to facilitate that success."

Coun Bodfish said he hoped there would be agreement between Brighton University - which owns part of the Village Way North site - and the club.

The city council owns the rest and may be willing to dispose of it to the club in return for some sort of stake in the stadium.

He stressed the stadium would be for the whole community and would not just be a commercial venture for the Albion.

Coun Bodfish said he was keen that there should be no unreasonable delay in the planning process, which could include a public inquiry.

He said: "We don't want a wait of years as there was for the decision on the fifth terminal at Heathrow airport. That would be no good for the club, the council or the objectors."

Albion chief executive Martin Perry said: "We are delighted to hear the council is so supportive."