A tennis club's plans to build one of the country's finest multi-sports complexes hang in the balance, after it lost out on the chance to redevelop delapidated football pitches.

Sutton Junior Tennis Centre had hoped to convert five-a-side football pitches next to its site in Rosehill into a football academy as part of its plans to create its "Olympic" Sports Village.

But it learnt it has lost out to five-a-side football pitch managing chain, Goals, in winning the contract to rebuild and run the pitches from Sutton Council.

The centre's founder, Keith Sohl, warned the decision affected its hopes of building further facilities, including squash, badminton,netball, volleyball and basketball facilities.

He said the commercial and planning viability of the site was now in doubt, because there were now major issues over parking and potentially securing outside investment in the project.

Plans to submit an outline planning application for the village have now been put on hold while the academy assesses the situation.

He said: "My will to expand the centre has not diminished, but we have to look again at how parts of the project could now be delivered.

He said: "Its fair to say parts the project now hang in the balance."

Mr Sohl had hoped to build the village, which he said would provide the borough an Olympic sports legacy by providing facilities for nine Olympic sports, within the next three years.

The decision to award the contract to Goals was called before Sutton Council's decision-making body, the executive, by Conservative opposition councillors last Monday, because of concerns over the tendering process.

Mr Sohl said he was concened at "a complete lack of consultation with local residents and the tennis centre and park users when choosing who would develop the site."

Council documents said the Goals' bid was preferred because it offered the best combination of quality and price.

A spokesman for Sutton Council said: “The contract process is still ongoing and we are not in a position to comment until this has been concluded.

"However, Sutton Council has a legal duty to choose the contract that offers the most to the community in terms of benefit.”

Goals was contacted for comment but declined because it said it had not yet been formerly told of the council's decision.

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