Sadiq Khan will not get involved in the ongoing Compulsory Purchase Order dispute between Lewisham Council and Millwall Football Club, although he ‘wholeheartedly supports’ the club remaining in the borough.

At Mayor’s Question Time this morning Conservative GLA member for Croydon and Sutton Steve O’Connell quizzed the Mayor on whether he would step in to ease concerns about transparency.

The Mayor answered that it was outside his remit, saying that the decision lies with Lewisham Council and then the secretary of state.

He said: “I’ve looked into whether I can get involved, the answer legally is no.

“I’ve looked at who makes the decision, the answer is Lewisham and the secretary of state.

“I’m quite clear though that I’ve got a leadership role and that leadership role says I want Millwall to stay in Lewisham and it’s really important that a fair and open process is used to exercise the decision.”

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Last week Lewisham Tory leaders urged Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Sajid Javid, secretary of state for communities and local government, to act against the proposed CPO.

The main points raised in the letter is the future of Millwall FC, the close relationship between Lewisham Council and development company Renewal, and the limited social or affordable housing proposed.

It is also highlighted that in the original plans Renewal was set to pay for a new London Overground station at Surrey Canal Road, which will now be funded by the taxpayer.

Ross Archer, Chairman of Lewisham Deptford Conservatives, said: “I have no confidence in the Labour dominated Lewisham Council making the right decision on this scheme.

“This scheme has not felt right from the start. Lewisham Council have appeared cagey on this for a while – not letting Millwall F.C. initially know about their plans to sell the land and entering a closed process with Renewal are just a few examples of this.

“If Lewisham residents are to have any confidence in the decision on the development around Millwall it needs to be taken out of the Council’s hands. I hope the Secretary of State or Mayor of London calls this decision in.”

The Council originally voted in favour of the CPO in September, which was then ‘called in’ by the Overview and Scrutiny Business Panel led by Labour Councillor Alan Hall who has been vocal in his support for Millwall.

Cllr Hall said: “Over the past five years Renewal's original outline planning application has fallen apart in slow motion in front of our very eyes.

"Renewal was going to pay for the new station at Surrey Canal Road - the taxpayer is now funding that; there was a multi-faith centre planned for Lewisham's diverse communities - that is now a cathedral-sized church for Christian evangelists from Australia and the ever-shrinking proposed 'sporting village' will drive away one of football's most famous clubs and it's highly successful community scheme providing opportunities for Lewisham's young people.

"That is bad enough but is also on top of the many questions surrounding governance, due diligence and ownership of Renewal that remain unanswered to this day."

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has also lent his support to the campaign.

He spoke out in support of Millwall and the clubs role in the Lewisham community in an opinion piece for The Guardian, saying “football clubs matter – it is time for politicians to realise that and take the game’s future seriously.”

A meeting to decide on the CPO was cancelled last week, and is set to be rescheduled for next month.