A DECISION over a bringing Worcester City Football Club 'back home' could be made next month, it has emerged.

The all-important planning application over building a 4,400-capacity ground at Perdiswell Park is almost ready to be voted on by councillors, with decision time in sight.

The Worcester News understands there is a good chance it will go to the council's planning committee on Thursday, May 25.

It comes as the Mayor of Worcester issues an impassioned rallying call over getting the club back to the city, calling its exile at Bromsgrove "crazy".

Councillor Paul Denham said he believes people's fears about a new ground over congestion are "irrational", given how limited its use will be.

"It's absolutely crazy that the football club isn't in Worcester," he said.

Worcester News: STADIUM: An image of the trusts' Worcester City FC proposal at Perdiswell.

"They do need to come back to the city but the problem is there are very, very few sensible places to put it.

"Wherever you put this ground, people will object because they'll have concerns over traffic congestion.

"But I feel most of those fears are irrational ones, we're not talking about a Premier League club, it won't be an enormous 'stadium'."

He also said he could not express a view on the specific Perdiswell application as he sits on the planning committee, but added that sites like Sixways would be unaffordable and too big.

Yesterday Rob Crean, from the club's supporter's trust, which submitted the planning application, said: "It's been nearly four years since we handed in the application, a lot of work has gone into it.

"But for us it was never about speed, it's about getting a robust application in place that stands a good chance of getting approved, and we think we've got that."

He also told the Worcester News he would be watching any formal recommendation from the planning department - which acts as a 'guide' to councillors - carefully.

The trust says it would be prepared to fund a national appeal to the Planning Inspectorate if councillors go against the recommended advice.

"If the officers recommend 'approval' and it gets chucked out (by councillors on the planning committee), we'll appeal," he said.

Councillor Denham's remarks came during a hustings event at Worcester's Cap 'n' Gown pub on Monday night.

During the debate Marjory Bisset, chair of Worcester Green Party, said she felt the football club should make a fresh bid to groundshare Sixways.