Brighton currently play home games at 7,000-seater Withdean Stadium

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has approved the 22,000-seater stadium plan, but Lewes council is appealing against the proposal on greenbelt land.

The club issued a statement after being named as an appeal defendant along with Brighton council and the government.

It said the case was a financial burden it "could well do without".

Lewes council said it was ready for an early hearing in the case and was waiting for Mr Prescott to say when he was ready to proceed.

FALMER STADIUM APPEAL Claimants: Lewes District Council Falmer Parish Council South Downs Society Defendants: Brighton and Hove Albion FC Brighton and Hove City Council Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

The council named the three joint claimants as Lewes District Council, Falmer Parish Council and the South Downs Society.

A spokeswoman said the authority's case was against "the flawed reasoning of the Deputy Prime Minister".

"The validity of his decision is the only issue," she said.

Lewes council argues Mr Prescott misinterpreted government planning policy for greenbelt land.

The site, on the outskirts of Brighton, is in the Sussex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Football club chief executive Martin Perry said: "We have been named as a defendant and will be going to court to defend ourselves and prove that this decision was made justly.

"Our fans know only too well the lengths that we have gone to in order to ensure the decision was made correctly."