Bradford Council leader Councillor John Ryan says he wants to see funders for the £200-million Superdome development identified by June.

And he made it clear to the developers at a stormy meeting last night that December 31 was the absolute deadline for funding to be in place for the project.

The meeting of Bradford Council's corporate executive sub-committee had been called for a progress report on the long-delayed scheme. Coun Ryan had said he wanted firm information about funding arrangements.

National Superdome chairman Mike Firth said the company was in advanced talks with two merchant banks and expected to make an appointment by April 10.

Mr Firth said the banks would then negotiate with institutions which wanted to fund Superdome.

After the meeting he said he would like to see funders identified by June but the processes took time.

Tory opposition leader Councillor Margaret Eaton urged the sub-committee to pull the plug on the development and said she could no longer sit back and let Bradford become a laughing stock. She said the Council should take urgent action to look at alternative proposals for the redevelopment of the stadium in Odsal.

Coun Eaton said there should be all-party representation and involvement on the strict basis that the future of the Bradford Bulls was assured. Before the meeting the Super League champions had formerly notified the Council that they were withdrawing support for Superdome.

The club warned it had rights as the main tenants and could take action against anyone and anything which hit its business. Coun Eaton asked what the Council's position was with regard to the warning.

She was told by solicitor Jerry Danby that he was taking advice and would make a formal response at the earliest opportunity. Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe said after the meeting: "The whole issue is a matter of deep concern and I think the outcome of this meeting is unsatisfactory. It doesn't help the residents who have been in limbo for a long time - far longer than was originally intended.''

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.