Eastbourne United's home ground might not have been earmarked for housing if it had been better kept, a top councillor said today.

Supporters have been alarmed by news that The Oval at Princes Park has been picked as a potential site for up to 100 homes.

It features in the first draft of the Eastbourne borough plan, which highlights 17 areas suitable for development to meet Government targets.

Eastbourne Borough Council insists it has no plans to evict the club - which has 12 years left on its lease of the ground - but admits the site is run-down and ripe for development.

Deputy leader Bob Lacey said many people were unhappy about the plans but emotion was not enough to save the football ground.

He said: "The Government has told us we have to identify sites where building could be done, and this is one of them whether we approve of it or not.

"People at the club are alarmed at the prospect but I have to say the ground doesn't seem to be maintained well and it's falling into decline. If it was well looked-after and spick-and-span there would not be the problem.

"We'd prefer it if the Government didn't interfere at all, but it's very much in favour of building on sites like these. We're caught between a rock and a hard place."

But Eastbourne United says if the ground is tatty, it's the council's fault.

Chairman Peter Snashall said: "The ground has always been owned by the council but since privatisation in 1980 they haven't provided a park keeper or anyone to look after the grounds.

"Vandalism has occurred and now litter is strewn everywhere - and it's the council's fault. I hold people there as being responsible for the state of the place. They put money into the tennis tournament but not into the football team.

"We've tried really hard to get things on an even keel here but it's hard without any money. It's a lovely park and we do not want houses built on it."

Council leisure spokeswoman Barbara Goodall said: "The Oval is in a bit of a dilapidated state. We laid our cards on the table. We don t have the money to put The Oval in a good state of repair and they, as we expected, do not either."