The new Forest stadium would be built in Clifton

The League One club's chief executive Mark Arthur said the team was considering a move from its current City Ground home to Clifton by 2014.

The club's ground on the River Trent has been its home since 1898.

The new �45m-�50m stadium would have a capacity of up to 50,000 with funding from the private and public sectors.

'New gateway'

The new location is closer to the M1, but the move would probably be timed to coincide with the expansion of the nearby A453, which links the area to the motorway.

The City Ground is located close to the River Trent

Forest chief executive Mark Arthur said the club was excited about the new stadium which would be a focus for new jobs and events in the area.

He said the club's main goal was still promotion to the Championship and then the Premiership - and added that the money for the project would not be taken from player funds.

The new stadium project was a "dramatic new gateway" to the city that should be in place by 2014, he said.

Green goals

The plans also include new housing and other commercial developments in the Clifton area and "the latest in green technology and a new transport infrastructure".

The costs of redeveloping the existing City Ground, which is owned by the city council, would be prohibitive, he added.

A possible new tram route for the Clifton area and the expansion of the nearby A543 make the move to the area very attractive.