Belfast City Council has unveiled its case for a multi-purpose sports stadium in the Province's capital.

Five potential sites in the city have been short listed by the council.

Maysfield, Ormeau Park, North Foreshore, Boucher Road and Blanchflower/Tommy Patton Park are detailed in a report, produced by development consultants Driver Jonas, on behalf of the council.

A copy of the business plan will now be forwarded to the Department for Finance and Personnel and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure for their consideration.

The council is to employ the consultants to do a final piece of work to rank the five sites using set evaluation criteria.

Chairman of the Council's Parks and Leisure Committee, Councillor Bob Stoker, has again called on the government to work in conjunction with the council.

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Mr Stoker said he wants private developers to deliver the stadium in the "most cost effective way to meet the needs of the sports and the demands of the fans for a city location".

"Contrary to reports in the media that the only viable site was at Ormeau Embankment, we actually have five sites for which we can make a strong argument for locating a sports stadium in the city," said the Councillor.

Mr Stoked denied recent media reports on the progress of a Belfast bid: "The media report that it is now down to two private developers to deliver is not accurate either, we haven't reached that stage yet.

"All the evidence shows that a sports stadium should be in city centre locations and we believe the business plan that has been developed is the clearest indication yet that the stadium should be located in Belfast."

"We have now forwarded the business plan to central government and look forward to entering into detailed discussions with the Executive and the private sector to come up with a solution that will meet all of our needs in terms of viability, value for money and a major sports facility of which we can all be proud," added Mr Stoker.

The Executive is still considering the merits of a Maze-based site, outside Lisburn. The construction of a stadium at the former prison has divided the main political parties in the Province, with Sinn Fein putting its weight behind the development, while ranks of the DUP are said to be opposed to such a move.

(PR/JM)