Des Lynam's call for Brighton and Hove City Council to "get behind the Albion" (Argus, April 19) sounds strangely similar to recent disappointing comments from the club.

What more does he expect the council to do? But for it, the Albion would still be playing in Gillingham.

Bear in mind the club has given the council neither an up-to-date business plan nor a planning application for Falmer. So the council can hardly be accused of dragging its feet.

The council has no money for the new stadium and has said this over and over again, right from the start. The club knows this and is not expecting any. So there's no point in Des suggesting we should "dip our hands in our pockets". But we are donating millions of pounds worth of land on which to build the ground.

Perhaps Des himself is in a better position to help - or could the club find some wealthy friends?

The council is also meeting or talking to either Dick Knight, Martin Perry or club representatives on a weekly basis to progress the plan.

I was pleased Dick was recently quoted in a magazine as saying work done by the club and the council's planners was producing an imaginative scheme. We're doing all we can because we believe in the idea of a community stadium.

Given the club's recent protest about sharing Withdean with an amateur side, I hope the Albion still believes in the idea too.

-Coun Mike Middleton, chairman, Albion Task Group, Brighton and Hove City Council