The managers of a Tooting business centre have said that they have yet to receive a "realistic" offer from a controversial free school which hopes to open there in September.

The Trident Centre, in Bickersteth Road, is the preferred site for the Michaela Community School (MCS) but is currently home to around 60 businesses including the office of the Tooting town centre manager.

With the MCS due to open in just nine months, time is running out for the school to move in and for the existing businesses to find a new home.

The centre is run by the Wandsworth Youth Enterprise Centre (WYEC), a charity who help disadvantaged young people set up in 1988, on behalf of the London Development Agency (LDA) But the Wandsworth Guardian understands that while the Bickersteth Road site is not for sale, a number of "interested parties" have expressed interest and have visited the site.

However, WYEC announced this week that it has not received any "acceptable" offers, making it clear that it is looking for more money.

Colin Sambrook, WYEC’s chief executive, said: “Should we receive any realistic offers to purchase Trident we will carefully consider how the suggested changes will affect the work of the charity, the young people we support and the local community before making any decisions."

Another organisation, Wandsworth Save Our Schools (WSOS) believe there was no demand for the school, which will take in 120 pupils in year one, in the first place.

A spokesman for Wandsworth Save Our Schools (WSOS) said: "There has been no demand for the school anywhere in Wandsworth. The MCS group are now trying to create that demand.

"As places will be allocated by lottery from a ten mile wide area there is little chance of local children getting a place at the school."

A consultation launched by the people behind MCS lasts until February.

To post your comments visit proposedmcstooting.co.uk/