A FORMER leader of Worcester City Council has demanded answers over the future of the football club - calling the situation "reprehensible".

Councillor Adrian Gregson, who led the authority for 12 months in 2013/14, says Worcester City FC's future is being put in jeopardy because of the delays.

The veteran politician has also insisted how he personally pushed for the club to be based at Perdiswell Park when he was in office, saying his group is "backing" the vision laid down by the supporters' trust.

The intervention has piled more pressure on the current Conservative leadership and the council's managing director, Sheena Ramsey, who is known to have reservations about Perdiswell.

Before Christmas she told club representatives the authority was looking at possible "alternative sites" for the club, despite a planning application for a 4,419-capacity stadium still working its way through the system.

Councillor Gregson said: "Up until recently the club had been led to believe that Perdiswell was considered a suitable site.

"Much time and money has been invested in the Perdiswell project by the club, supporters and investors.

"When I was leader of the council I made no secret of the fact that subject to suitable negotiations, a Labour council would support the club's ambition.

"But now at a very late stage doubt has been cast by the Conservative leadership questioning the suitability of the site.

"I find it thoroughly reprehensible that at no stage thus far has it been suggested by council leaders that they disagree with the site.

"Indeed, the club has been led to believe that subject to planning permission, there is little impediment to the plan.

"It is now incumbent on the council's new Conservative leadership to make it clear whether they would support and facilitate the location at Perdiswell, subject to planning permission and conditions, or if they have alternative sites they want the club to go to."

He also said he was desperately concerned about the cost of the planning application, which has been mired in technical hold-ups.

""It's common knowledge the club wishes to return to the city," he said.

"But this is already a costly process for the club and any further delay or changed site proposal will make matters worse."

The comments have delighted the supporters' trust, which is holding talks with planning officers at the end of this month about the Perdiswell bid.

Trust secretary Rob Crean said: "This is exactly what we've been saying, either support us or not but don't do nothing."

But Tory Councillor Mike Johnson, the cabinet member for sport, leisure and retail, told your Worcester News he wants a solution too.

He said: "I was aware of the conversations (between Sheena Ramsey and the club) - I've also had a couple of emails around the Perdiswell application but as I sit on the planning committee, I'm playing a straight bat and not expressing an opinion.

"But I'm aware the Perdiswell application has been kicking around for some time - on all sides, we'd like to make progress on it."

He also said that he was having meetings with senior council officers this afternoon in which he would bring it up, and insisted he had not seen any list of alternative sites himself.

The council's managing director has refused to comment publicly on what she told club officials, with the conversation regarded as private.

Worcester City have been playing matches at Kidderminster Harriers' Aggborough stadium since leaving St George's Lane in Aprill 2013.