Worcester City Football Club fear being forced to build a stadium they cannot afford, plunging their long-term future deeper into doubt.

St Modwen, the firm behind plans for a new ground at Nunnery Way, is ready to submit designs despite the club declaring six months ago they did not have enough money.

Today, the club remains adamant that any move to the site, between junctions 6 and 7 of the M5, could sound its death knell.

They have pleaded to be released from the contract, which commits them to a new stadium until 2017, but St Modwen have not backed down.

The property developer intends to present plans to Worcester City Council next month despite no agreement on how to bridge a £1.5 million funding gap in the project.

They are expected to be along the lines of plans outlined in September for a 556-seater main stand and covered terracing for 1,600 fans behind one of the goals.

Costing about £2 million, it would be the minimum standard required for the club’s current Blue Square Bet North division.

St Modwen believes the project can become affordable but the club is relying on Worcester City Council’s planning committee throwing the scheme out.

A statement from the football club, which informed shareholders at last night’s annual meeting, said: “Since September there have been communications and meetings between the club and St Modwen, and also with the planners but, as yet, nothing has been agreed to get over the impasse of the funding gap.

“St Modwen has also turned down our request to terminate the contract.

“We have made it clear that we will not support the plan if it cannot be afforded and are confident that, without our support, the plan will be turned down.”

John Dodds, Midlands regional director for St Modwen, said: “We have submitted revisions to the planning application for Nunnery Way, which allows for a football stadium that meets the requirements of Blue Square Bet North and we hope that this will go before a planning committee meeting in May.

“We have also met with Worcester City Football Club and offered to revise the contract between us so that any football stadium is affordable by the club.

“We are continuing to have ongoing dialogue with the local authority, Worcester City Football Club and other stakeholders regarding the planning application.”

The city council has always said any stadium on the site needs to fit in with the green network and be financially sustainable.

St Modwen needs the ground to be approved before it can develop the majority of the 20-acre site for car showrooms, restaurants and office space, which could generate future funds for the football club.

Who pays for the access bridge, costing in the region of £750,000, over the Nunnery Way dual carriageway also remains unresolved.