A row has broken out over plans for a new football stadium which may be central to Nottingham's bid to be a host city for the 2018 World Cup. Political Editor CHARLES WALKER reports.

A DELEGATION from the Football Association ended their latest visit to Nottingham meeting the great and good in Wollaton Hall.

The FA was back in Notts to assess the progress of Nottingham's bid to become a host city for the 2018 World Cup.

By late afternoon yesterday, Nottingham's bid team, which is made up of representatives from Nottingham Forest, the city and county councils and Rushcliffe Borough Council, were pleased with the impression they had made on the FA delegates.

More than 20 city leaders joined the party to share a glass of wine with the inspectors and show the breadth of support for the project.

But while the setting was serene, behind the scenes Notts County Council was causing a disturbance.

At about the same time the guests were assembling in Wollaton, Councillor Kay Cutts, the Conservative leader of the county council, issued an outspoken statement on plans to build a new stadium at Gamston.

'unprofessional'

According to the bid team, the stadium is essential if Nottingham is to host the World Cup and it was an important part of the presentation to the FA.

But Coun Cutts accused Nottingham City Council of dominating the process and trying to bounce the county into the scheme "by announcing its plans for a new stadium, through the media".

The statement from the county council claimed the city was "acting like a centre forward prima donna" and failing to act as a "team player".

Coun Cutts said: "We've made it clear that we would only support a bid on the existing Forest site. Our land at Gamston is not for sale.

"The city council's decision to go it alone and make this announcement to the media is unprofessional and undermines the potential success of our bid. We are a key partner in the bid and should not read about the plans in the local media.

"The only sensible option if we're to have a stadium in the county is to redevelop the existing City Ground site. It is what we agreed with the city council and it is what we are working towards."

The statement came as an unwelcome surprise to many at Wollaton Hall.

Not least, it was pointed out, because the county council is represented on Nottingham's 2018 World Cup team and the bid document was signed off and sent to the FA more than a week ago.

An officer and cabinet member from the county council were even present for parts of the day-long visit by the FA, the organisers told the Post.

The bid document makes clear there were three options under consideration for a World Cup stadium in Nottingham: Holme Pierrepont, Gamston and the City Ground.

The document discounted Holme Pierrepont because of concerns over flooding and the City Ground was ruled out on the basis of a feasibility study commissioned by Nottingham Forest.

It concluded redevelopment would not deliver the capacity required by the footballing authorities for World Cup matches.

Meanwhile, the Gamston site was proposed as a workable option where a stadium of 45,000 seats could be constructed, with finance provided through Nottingham Forest, the city council and large associated housing development.

In response to the county council's statement, Councillor Jon Collins the leader of Nottingham City Council, said: "This has been an all-authority, all-party bid from the start and it needs to remain so if we are to be successful. County council representatives have been involved in this and I hope the reaction is based on a misunderstanding of what is involved.

"Ultimately I am sure the county council would not want to undermine Nottinghamshire's bid to become a World Cup host city. The FA has made it very clear the City Ground is not an option."

Among those who gathered at Wollaton Hall there was optimism that Nottingham could maintain its bid to be a host city for the 2018 World Cup despite the row.

Nottingham entrepreneur and property developer Ken Grundy said: "The bid is a definite runner. It is going to work. It has got the feel to me of being successful."

While Nottingham's 2018 World Cup bid team wants to keep the county council onside, there were suggestions that the project could proceed without the authority.

The county council owns only a "modest" portion of the land on the Gamston site, put at about 10%, which includes a depot and one other plot.

The majority of the land is owned by Havenwood Construction and Nottingham City Council.

Brian Wells, a major landowner in Rushcliffe, who has battled local authorities over land and planning in the past, said: "Kay Cutts likes to go opposite to the stream. It is not helpful, but I don't think it will have a material effect because the county council does not own a significant amount of the land.

"This is something we want to develop for the next generation and the generation after that."

Earlier two members of the 'next generation' had begun the day by introducing the first presentation to the FA team at Hart's Restaurant.

Ellen Potter and Ben Royle, both aged nine and from Sherwood, will be 18 in 2018.

Ben told the FA delegation: "Me and my friends think it would be really cool if World Cup games were played in Nottingham. I'll definitely be watching. That's if I'm not playing for England by then."

charles.walker@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk