A HIGH Court judge has heard opening arguments in a legal battle scheduled to last six days over the future of Bristol's Memorial Stadium site with Sainsbury’s.

The hearing to settle an ongoing dispute between Bristol Rovers and Sainsbury’s over a land deal involving the club's current home in Horfield started in London today.

David Matthias QC of Francis Taylor Buildings is representing the football club with the case being heard by Mrs Justice Sonia Proudman.

Mrs Justice Proudman was told the football club agreed a deal with the supermarket chain in 2011, as part of its plans to move to a new ground on the Frenchay campus of the University of the West of England (UWE).

The terms of the deal were that Sainsbury's would buy the Memorial Stadium for £30 million and lease it back to the club for a peppercorn rent until its move to the new ground was completed - at which time a new supermarket would be built on the site.

The club would use the money towards financing the building of the new 21,700-seat stadium.

At the time the deal was made, the court heard, there was no planning permission or infrastructure in place, the costs were uncertain and Bristol Rovers were still negotiating with UWE.

Lawyers for both sides today outlined their cases to the judge, as a six-day hearing got underway.

Mark Wonnacott QC, for Sainsbury's, said the supermarket giants believes it 'lawfully terminated' the contract when various conditions were not met.

But the club's barrister, David Matthias QC, argued the contract is either still running, or has been terminated in breach of its terms.

At High Court, on Monday, February 9, Mr Justice Roth scheduled the seven day hearing to begin between Monday, May 11 and Friday, May 15 after being told that it is vital for the club to know by June whether it can hold Sainsbury's to a £30m deal to buy the stadium.

Bristol Rovers Chairman Nick Higgs said ahead of the case: “We are exceptionally grateful to all of our supporters for sticking with us through the whole process and we hope that at the end of it all we can bring you a positive conclusion.”