The derelict football pitch at the centre of the borough’s free school controversy could get a makeover as Sutton Common Rovers’ new home.

Team bosses, who have searched fruitlessly for a new ground for eight years, say they would pay for a new 3G pitch and changing rooms at Rosehill park, and hope to lease the land for half a century.

In September, ruling Liberal Democrats said Sutton Council would block any attempt to build a desperately-needed secondary school on the site, instead preferring its own, £8m, plot in Belmont.

The Department for Education and free school company Greenshaw Learning Trust both said the latter site was too small.

Rovers chairman Alan Salmon said: “We are not asking them for money, all we are asking them for is a plot of land.

“We will go out and talk to Sport England and the Football Foundation for funding, we have already spoken to them and know the funding is going to be there because we are a semi-professional football club.

“We need a 30-year lease before we can get funding.

“Ideally, we would like to get a 50-year lease because the club is going to be around for a long time.”

A Sutton Council spokesman said: “Club representatives have spoken to council officers over a period of time about their require- ments for a home ground.

“Unfortunately, the council does not have a ready-made sports ground that can be leased to the club.

“We are aware that the club has played at Sutton United FC, whose Gander Green Lane ground does provide all the necessary facilities, including a 3G pitch that can sustain frequent use, unlike pitches in our parks.

“We are happy to work with the club to help its search.”

The new bid comes as MPs debated Sutton’s school place crisis in Westminster Hall.

Education Minister Sam Gyimah said yesterday: “I am seriously disappointed that the council has since changed its mind about this site.

“Although on Metropolitan open land, this would not be without precedent in Sutton.

“There is an incinerator on open land in Sutton at the moment.

“I urge the council in the strongest terms to reconsider its plans.”

The club has promised to allow schools and the public to use the ground outside of matches and training sessions.

This is the third time it has tried to secure the Rosehill site.

Bosses have battled for eight years to find somewhere to call home, after grounds Rovers used to use, including Rosehill, Sutton Common recreation ground and Thomas Wall park, became unavailable.

Earlier this year the club secured a one-year ground share deal with Sutton United to play on their 3G pitch at Gander Green Lane.

Before then, players and club members had been making 30-mile round trips to Cobham to play their home games.