THE leader of Worcester City Council has refused to back plans for the football team to return home - sparking fury by insisting he must stay out of the Perdiswell debate.

Councillor Simon Geraghty has formally congratulated Worcester City for knocking Coventry out the FA Cup, but says he wants to stay well away from the saga over a new ground.

The stance has dismayed the club's supporters trust, which says the stadium dream has become "a political football".

During a full council meeting at the Guildhall, Labour Cllr Simon Cronin called the Blue and White's cup scalp "spectacular" and asked the leader if he wanted to pay tribute to the team.

Cllr Cronin then said the Conservative leadership should be outwardly backing the ground proposals, given its strong support for a new swimming pool at Perdiswell.

Cllr Cronin added: "The victory (over Coventry) was all the more memorable, given that the club still has no home.

"Given his support for a new swimming pool, could the leader indicate his comparative priority for the football club's new stadium?"

Cllr Geraghty said he'd like to "formally congratulate Worcester City for a fantastic result" against the League One outfit, telling the chamber he wishes them well against Scunthorpe in the next round.

He urged fellow politicians to look at the planning application over the Perdiswell stadium and make their own minds up, but insisted he had no intention of getting involved.

He told the room that because the application is currently being examined by planning officers, he would not be taking a view.

"I'm not going to be drawn into a debate over a planning application that has not been validated," he said.

"I'd encourage (all fellow councillors) to take a look at that application and make their own minds up, but I'm not going to be getting into this debate."

Worcester City are currently in exile at Kidderminster playing their matches at Aggborough.

The club's supporters' trust had handed the council a planning application over a 4,100 capacity ground at Perdiswell, which is currently being held up due to a survey over traffic congestion.

Councillor Adrian Gregson, the city's former Labour leader until June, took the opposite stance and backed the plans.

But it has divided opinion, with nearby residents collecting more than 1,000 names on a signature calling for it to be shelved.

Councillor Gareth Jones, a Conservative representing some of the neighbourhood near the park, has also spoke against it, as has Worcester Green Party.

Worcester City Supporters' Trust has called it "disappointing" but insists it believes the plan is the right one.

Rob Crean, the trust secretary, said: "We are convinced there is a compelling argument for the stadium going ahead.

"We always knew this was going to happen, that it was going to become a political football, so we're not surprised (that Cllr Geraghty is staying out of it).

"I'd urge Cllr Geraghty to look at the plans. We took 3,500 fans to Coventry - that's 3,500 voters."

But campaigner Leslie Merrick, of Drovers Way, who has helped collect 1,000 names on a petition, said: "I'm delighted he's staying away from it - we don't want this on our doorstep."

*More on this story will follow in tomorrow's Worcester News.