Falkirk have to move from their crumbling Brockville

The First Division champions received a letter on Tuesday demanding clarification within seven days of a number of issues that could yet prevent them winning promotion.

It arrived on the day construction work started on Falkirk's new stadium following the awarding of the �7.6m contract to Mowlem plc.

And Falkirk chairman Campbell Christie believes that his club can provide all the information required on time for their planned presentation before SPL chairmen next Thursday.

SPL secretary Ian Blair revealed that the letter to Falkirk requests assurances over issues like ground capacity, planning permission and contractual matters over the new stadium.

The SPL also requires to see an updated safety certificate for the Excelsior Stadium, which Falkirk plan to share with Airdrie United if allowed into the SPL.

This is a momentous time in the history of the football club Falkirk chairman Campbell Christie

Falkirk will move out of their present Brockville Stadium at the end of the season to make way for a supermarket, but their new stadium will not be completed until next year.

They have an agreement with the administrators responsible for the Excelsior, built for now liquidated Airdrieonians, to use the ground next season.

Falkirk submitted a detailed proposal to the SPL in March and have threatened legal action if they are denied promotion.

But the SPL want additonal assurances that Falkirk's matches would take precedence over those of Airdrie United, the new Second Division club who presently rent the stadium.

The SPL also want to make sure that the Excelsior has a safety certificate to hold the 10,000 seated fans necessary for participation in their league.

Falkirk's new stadium is initially planned to hold 8,000 fans and the SPL would want assurances that this will be increased to 10,000 before the following season.

Even if Falkirk can provide information to satisfy the league demands, they would then need to command a 7-5 majority vote among SPL chairmen, with Motherwell, Dundee United, Livingston and Partick Thistle all still facing the possibility of relegation.

A ballot would be required because they do not own, or have a long-term lease, of the stadium they will be using in their first season back in the SPL.

Falkirk have already won the First Division title

Mowlem, under contract from Falkirk Community Stadium Limited, a joint venture between Falkirk Council and Falkirk Football Club, promise "one of Scotland's finest football stadiums" at Westfield, Falkirk.

The stadium, including car parking and other leisure and hospitality areas, is one of the 18 projects that are integral to the �23m Falkirk Action Plan designed to transform the local economy.

Falkirk chairman Campbell Christie added: "This is a momentous time in the history of the football club.

"We have worked for many years through challenging circumstances to create a new stadium which will enable us to meet the criteria set down by the Scottish Premier League.

"With Falkirk Council, we are providing the Falkirk community with an asset that will be substantially more than a basic stadium for playing football.

"It will be an important feature in the future economic and social development of the community."