The possibility of The City Ground being a World Cup venue in 2018 has been ruled out, it has today been revealed.

Instead, ambitious plans to build a new stadium at Gamston have been unveiled.

The new site is part of Nottingham's bid to become a host city in England's bid for the 2018 football showpiece and would become Nottingham Forest's new home.

The plans will be presented to representatives of the Football Association when they visit the city again today.

Forest's Chief Executive Mark Arthur said: "We have been working tirelessly over the past weeks together with its partners at Rushcliffe Borough Council, Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council to refine the prospective World Cup stadium proposals in advance of the latest round of FA World Cup inspections to potential host cities.

"After exhaustive studies of the existing City Ground, and how redevelopment of both temporary and permanent new facilities could take place on such a restricted site, the bid team have concluded, with the FA, that it is impossible to transform the ground into a fully compliant FIFA stadium fit to host world cup matches in 2018.

"Therefore the club have sought to further evolve their plans for a 'new build' FIFA compliant stadium, but at the same time take on board the concerns expressed by local residents groups and technical experts about the location of the stadium.



"Thus, again with the support and encouragement of the FA, NFFC has refined their proposals for a new stadium still linked to a major 'sporting legacy' of leisure and recreation facilities near Holme Pierrepont, but taking advantage of a site better integrated with major transport connections and a potential Sustainable Urban Extension at Gamston.

"Nottingham's bid to be a World Cup host city in 2018 has made tremendous progress over the last few months, with the contribution of the Club, Local Authorities and other partners.

"The 'new stadium' concept represents the very opportunity to meet FIFA requirements, provide a magnificent legacy for Rushcliffe and Greater Nottingham, but at the same time recognising the sensitivities and concerns of local communities."