Call for unity over World Cup bid

How the new Nottingham stadium might look

The leader of Nottingham City Council has called for unity to help make the city's 2018 World Cup bid a success.

The bid, which is backed by Nottingham Forest football club, is centred on a new 45,000-seat stadium in Gamston.

But the county council is against the stadium, which it says would create transport problems and wants Nottingham Forest's City Ground to be redeveloped.

City council leader Jon Collins said this was not possible and has urged the authority to back the bid.

Councillor Collins said: "It became very clear that the FA would not support any bid which included the redevelopment of the City Ground because it wouldn't be compliant [with FIFA regulations] but it would support Gamston.

"The bid has been a partnership bid and to maximise all chances of it being successful, we need all the partners to be a part of it."

The county council owns part of the land earmarked for the Gamston stadium but the city council and Nottingham Forest have said it would not be necessary to build on the authority's land.

'Overwhelming thought'

Mark Arthur, chief executive of Nottingham Forest, said: "Many of us share the belief that this is a great opportunity for Forest to find a new home within a project that will provide a lasting legacy to the city.

"But to achieve that we had hoped all parties would be pulling in the same direction."

Councillor Kay Cutts, leader of the county council said Gamston did not have the transport links to cope with the planned stadium.

"The only way of getting to that new stadium is by road either by bus. It's an overwhelming thought.

"[Supporters] can't use the railway station efficiently because it's too far to travel, and after the World Cup bid what then [for the stadium]?"

Nottingham is hoping to become one of 12 host cities as England bids to host the football world cup.

A decision on which country will host the 2018 World Cup will be made in December 2010.

Sixteen towns and cities have put in bids, including nearby Derby and Leicester.

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