WORCESTER City Football Club is making one last push to win approval for its new stadium project.

The club has six weeks to convince the city council to include the proposed new stadium - together with a B&Q superstore - in its Local Plan.

The exciting bid to build a 6,000- capacity new venue in Nunnery Way, Spetchley, is crucial to the future success of the blue and whites, as they aim to keep up with the demands of the modern game.

Councillors will consider whether to include the stadium and superstore in the adopted Local Plan on Tuesday, November 5.

Before then, they will consider commissioned studies concerning issues such as retail, traffic and residential impact, and car parking.

These studies are being presented to the council this week. It will also look at the club's business plan before coming to a decision.

The club has been looking to move away from St George's Lane for more than a decade, and several other enabling projects have been considered over the years.

The breakthrough with the current project came in October last year, when DIY giants B&Q emerged as the financial backers for a new stadium.

Since then, a team of officials, led by solicitor David Hallmark, have fought to convince the council that the proposal would benefit the city as a whole.

In November, the council's planning committee approved the scheme in principle, and councillors at a full council meeting did likewise the following month.

But in December, a breakdown in communication led to confusion as to what the councillors had actually voted for in the full meeting.

Director of Development Services Stuart McNidder said they had only voted to support the new stadium, although many felt they had supported both the stadium and the superstore plans.

Councillors have not yet felt able to accept the whole scheme in the Local Plan, but have asked to see impact studies and a business plan before coming to a final decision.

Over the next few weeks, the Evening News will look at these studies, as well as the business plan.

We will also preview the club's Centenary match against Stafford Rangers tomorrow night, and consider the impact the development would have on the city.

"After 10 or 11 years of great endeavour, we are looking forward to the project being given the go-ahead so that the football club can move into the 21st Century," said club chairman Dr Mike Sorensen.

"It would provide a decent sporting facility that can be enjoyed by the whole community, and it's sorely needed."