Meadowbank Stadium has playing fields to the east of the site

Tom Aitchison, Edinburgh City Council's chief executive, is recommending part of the Meadowbank Stadium site be sold.

The cash would be used to meet a �10.5m shortfall in the pool project and pay for a phased development of new facilities at the Meadowbank site.

Councillors will consider the proposals at a meeting on Thursday.

Meadowbank Stadium has an area to the east where it is thought a new stadium would be proposed.

The report recommends councillors proceed with the full refurbishment of the Royal Commonwealth Pool (RCP), which will cost �37.1m.

We are recommending that councillors give us the go ahead to proceed with the RCP project as a priority Jim Inch Director of corporate services

Jim Inch, Edinburgh City Council's director of corporate services, said: "Our recommendations are based on the general support for the redevelopment of the Royal Commonwealth Pool and on support for the continued provision of sports facilities at Meadowbank.

"A significant funding shortfall for the RCP project and for any development at Meadowbank still exists but we believe that we can address this over time.

"We are recommending that councillors give us the go ahead to proceed with the RCP project as a priority and to look at options around the sale of part of the Meadowbank site.

"The sale of valuable land would deliver the RCP project and also provide some funds to initiate a phased approach to the delivery of improved facilities at Meadowbank.

"If agreed we will report back to council in March with proposals."

In August, councillors called for a report into the city's sports facilities.