Firoz Kassam will decide by tomorrow how long he is to remain as Oxford United's owner - and could make an announcement next week about pulling out.

It follows yesterday's High Court verdict which opens the way for a judicial review on Oxford City Council's decision to allow a multiplex cinema at Minchery Farm.

At the court hearing in London the judge, Mr Justice Hidden, said it was "arguable" that the council had failed to abide by national planning policies when granting permission for the club's multiplex, which is needed to fund the adjoining stadium.

A further blow to hopes of completing the stadium, which has remained half-built for more than three years, came yesterday when Morrells of Oxford announced it was seeking an injunction preventing work re-starting at the complex because of a covenent restricting the sale of alcohol within half-a-mile of the Blackbird pub. Mr Kassam, who said he was "gutted" by the High Court verdict, hinted that he would now listen to offers for the second division club.

He told the Oxford Mail: "I will decide over the weekend how long I want to carry on and I have got meetings with lawyers on Monday.

"I wasn't really asking for offers, I am just saying that if there is anybody out there who has got any suggestions as to how we can take this on, they should come forward.

"I'm not walking away though. It's not right for me to stop something I have started."

Kassam, a London hotelier who has owned the club for 13 months, said it would not be right to expose anyone investing £1m in the new stadium to the risks there would be while the judicial review was hanging over them.

After the High Court verdict, Kassam returned to Oxford to hold a crisis meeting with Oxford City Council officials, including deputy leader Maureen Christian and chief executive Bob Block. Kassam and Mrs Christian both confirmed they would be seeking legal advice about the implications of the decision, and they plan to meet again on Monday.

Christian said, however: "We remain committed to seeing the stadium at Minchery Farm completed."

At the High Court hearing, Michael Druce, the city council's barrister, had told the judge there would be 'very severe financial consequences' for the club if the judicial review was allowed, leading to possible expulsion from the Football League.

The challenge had been mounted by developer Pentith which was refused permission to build a 12-screen cinema off Oxpens Road as part of plans for a leisure village.

The judge has ordered the full hearing of the case to take top priority in the court lists and to be heard as soon as possible. It's believed that could mean this summer.

Story date: Saturday 18 March

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