Exclusive: Leeds United's plans in Council's hands

However, chief executive Shaun Harvey warned the project needs significant assistance from Leeds City Council to become reality.

Ambitious plans had been drawn up between the club and local authority to increase the capacity from 39,450 to around 50,000 while continuing with existing plans for the East Stand to include a hotel, increased conference facilities, shops and offices.

In the immediate aftermath of last month's decision by FIFA to award the tournament to Russia, disappointed United officials revealed their determination to see through the ground improvements.

Now, chairman Ken Bates and Shaun Harvey have devised a battle plan to ensure the ageing stadium is brought up to modern standards and make Elland Road a fitting venue to stage games in both the 2013 rugby league and 2015 rugby union World Cups.

To make that dream a reality, Harvey last night said financial support in the form of a loan from the Council – which was agreed under the proposals for staging the World Cup – must be assured.

"Missing out on the World Cup was a huge blow and we all felt let down by the goalposts being moved (by FIFA)," he said. "But the key now is making sure that the work we did as a city is not lost.

"We can't lose the impetus that was gained by bidding for the World Cup because if we do then the danger is we may never get this chance again. Work to improve south Leeds and regenerate the area, using

Elland Road as the catalyst, should not just stop because of 22 people making a decision in Zurich.

"Why should they affect the lives of people in Leeds when we have an ability to do something about it?

"To do that, we would encourage the Council to still move forward with these plans as quickly as possible. In that respect, there has been some early dialogue between us. The question is with them now as to how they want to take things forward."

In terms of funding the East Stand development, Harvey added: "We are in a position where the development can go forward as soon as funding is arranged.

"We were to receive the support from the Council in terms of a loan. The offer was conditional of getting the 2018 World Cup.

"We would hope that, in view of the benefits the work will bring to the city and south Leeds in particular, the Council will see the benefit of supporting the club's attempts to redevelop the area.

"We need to understand fully where the Council sits in relation to the whole site and their aspirations. The site needs some enabling funding to deal with the real issues."

A spokesman for Leeds City Council said: "We have received a proposal from Leeds United concerning a possible redevelopment of Elland Road. We are currently considering that proposal and will be responding in due course."

The first stage of the work to develop the East Stand is due to get underway before the end of this season with 22 new executive boxes, six new lounges and a

wider concourse in the upper tier with improved facilities for supporters being added to the existing 17,000 all-seater structure.

Once completed, the next three phases – which have already been granted planning permission – will involve moving the club shop to the opposite end of Lowfields Road, building a hotel with two- and four-star facilities in its place, and then constructing a shopping arcade to link the two.

As part of the work, the Billy Bremner statue will be relocated and occupy an area immediately opposite the East Stand.

To many United fans, however, any desire to redevelop Elland Road is of secondary importance compared to the need to buy back a ground that was sold in November 2004 to property developer Jacob Adler. Since then, Teak Commercial Limited, an off-shore firm based in the British Virgin Islands, have acquired the land and United pay rent of around 1.4m per year.

Harvey, though, insists the subject of owning the freehold will not prove to be an obstacle.

He said: "We can buy Elland Road back from the landlord at any stage due to having an option in the original lease. There are 19 years remaining on that with an option for another 25 on top of that.

"So, it is not a case of how this is going to be done – we know that. It is just a case of the funding being put in place to do it. In relation to that, discussions have been on-going with various individuals for the past 18 months.

"The general banking crisis has not helped, while neither has going into administration (during the summer of 2007) in terms of our credit rating.

"But I feel we are sufficiently far away from that in terms of our trading record (Leeds are on course to post a profit for a third year running) for it not to be a problem to a potential lender. I think they will see beyond that."

With Leeds riding high in the Championship, Harvey concedes the need for Premier League standard facilities could become more acute – especially as the club also plan to host other major sporting events.

He said: "We hope to be a host for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, while we have also been selected as a host venue for the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup.

"In terms of profile for the city, those are good news even if they cannot compare to the magnitude of the 2018 football World Cup.

"What we need to make sure is we don't lose momentum, belief or sight of what we were trying to do."