It was claimed in court that Sainsbury's had been looking for a way out of the deal for nearly two years. David Matthias QC, speaking for the club, said the proposed Sainsbury's supermarket had become "less financially viable" amid a difficult trading climate. He said Sainsbury's saw the restrictions on delivery times as an opportunity to get out of the contract and "did nothing" from January 2014 to challenge the restrictions and get suitable planning permission. The club successfully made its own application to lift the restrictions in December that year.