• New twist in saga comes as gathering pressure builds against scheme • Politicians on all sides demand halt as decision is put off until February

The vote on the compulsory purchase of Millwall’s land around The Den was dramatically postponed on Tuesday evening just 24 hours before the controversial land-grab was due to be confirmed. The postponement until February comes at the end of a week of gathering pressure sparked by the revelation in the Guardian that the club could be forced to leave their historic home should the sale of its land to an opaque offshore-registered property developer be ordered by the Labour council.

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In the past week politicians on all sides have called on Lewisham’s mayor and cabinet to halt a compulsory purchase order (CPO) that will see land occupied by Millwall’s prized community trust sold on to a small offshore-registered property company with historic ties to current and former Lewisham council officers.

The Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, has described the prospect of Millwall being forced out of their home as “heartbreaking” while local Conservatives have written to the communities and local government minister Sajid Javid urging the Government to call in and review the entire scheme. Lewisham council has maintained it believes Millwall will not have to leave the borough and that its plans will be beneficial for the club and the area.

On Tuesday night Lewisham Labour’s own Councillor Alan Hall stated once again that the council should seek instead to work together with the borough’s only professional sports club. “As the CPO call in review is further delayed Lewisham Council must seize the offer of talks with both hands for the sake of its reputation, its residents and Millwall FC,” Hall said.

The cancellation puts a temporary halt on an increasingly fraught few days, with a routine monthly meeting in the town hall’s civic suite due to be deluged with interested parties, supporters, media and visitors from beyond the football world engaged by the wider themes of community, transparency and political intrigue.

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This is the third time in the past five months Lewisham council has cancelled its own CPO proceedings. The first came after the appearance of a sales brochure, published in the Guardian, that appeared to show one half of Renewal’s twin offshore owners had already considered the possibility of selling its interest in the scheme, throwing the council plans into disarray. After a lengthy investigation Lewisham has now satisfied itself the sales brochure was prepared on a speculative whim by the estate agents, acting entirely off their own backs and without instructions of any kind from Renewal, their clients.

The second postponement came last month after questions were raised about the sustainability of Millwall’s category‑two academy under the proposals. It is understood the current cancellation is a response to similar questions and the need for more time to investigate concerns raised in letters sent to the council on Tuesday afternoon by Millwall’s lawyers. The club are desperate for talks with the local authority in order to find a compromise. Lewisham council denies its plans are a threat. A statement last week read: “Lewisham Council is very supportive of Millwall.”