WE won't change our minds.

That is the message from bosses at Southampton City College who are pressing ahead with plans to sell off The Deanery site despite strong opposition from the city's gymnastics club.

Southampton Amateur Gymnastics Club has been using the Chapel Road site for nearly 30 years.

Now club bosses have been told they have just two weeks to leave the site, which the college plans to sell as part of a £20m redevelopment.

Hundreds of club members, parents and coaches rallied around their base, saying the gym must be saved. However a spokesman for Southampton City College said: "Our position is not going to change."

She said the new facilities planned for the city college would be of as much benefit to the local community and club members as the Deanery.

Club members and coaches say they need their gym, which has specialist equipment and is used by special olympic athletes .

Ken Ball, 72, a gymnastics coach has been teaching youngsters with special needs for 28 years. He said: "This gym has got something to show for it. It is not just about keeping kids off the streets, it is about giving them something to achieve and work to.

"We have national gymnast champions and special olympics champions here and they have never let the name and reputation of Southampton go down. We should be proud of them.

The city college should be ashamed of what they are doing because at the end of the day the club has got the same ambitions and goals that the college has."

The college insists The Deanery is seriously outdated.