Ambitious Bradford City are planning a further 1,800-seat ground extension to bring Valley Parade's capacity up to nearly 27,000.

It's all part of the club's long term plans for a 35,000-capacity stadium.

The plans were revealed today as City applied to Bradford Council to close a section of Valley Parade (the road that leads from Manningham Lane to the West stand) and part of South Parade - from Valley Parade to Holywell Ash Lane.

If approved, the closure would allow for the West Stand to be extended to run the full length of the pitch.

The club are due to start work soon on a 7,000 extension to the Sunwin Stand to give a capacity of more than 11,000 and bring the ground total up to 25,000.

It the new extension plans are approved the West stand would have a capacity of just under 13,000.

Managing director Shaun Harvey said: "The application provides for the addition of a further 1,800 seats and associated facilities.

"We have always made it clear that our long term ambitions are to expand the stadium to a target of 35,000 and, to achieve this, the success of this latest application is imperative."

The latest extension will entail the removal of the Campbells supporters' bar at the corner of Valley Parade and South Parade and the creation of a new turning head on Valley Parade.

Current plans for the stand involve the demolition

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of the old dressing room, office block and bar at the corner of South Parade and Holywell Ash Lane.

New dressing rooms will be incorporated in the North West corner of the stand extension which is due to be completed during the summer, leaving the site of the current dressing rooms ready for demolition.

Harvey said: "The club's professional advisers suggest that the road closure order can take between six and 12 months to be considered. Statutory notices have to be published and the closure of roads need Government approval as well as local approval.

"We are hoping that work will start very quickly with alterations to the back of the north or kop stand and the north west corner.

"As regards demolition of the Campbells supporters bar, we point out that, with our application for a liquor licence in the extension to the West stand, it will be possible to buy alcoholic drinks in all three home sections of the ground.

"That means a supporters bar as such is not seen as important as it was. However, Campbells has been a popular facility and we are looking to add facilities for supporters not knock them down."

Meanwhile, Portuguese striker Jorge Cadete was due to have a medical today so that he can complete his loan transfer to City from Benfica.

He arrived at Bradford on Sunday night and trained with the players for the first time yesterday.

Defender Ashley Westwood, who has had some bad luck with injuries since joining City from Crewe 19 months ago, is to see a specialist about a knee injury.

Left back Andy Myers who has been out of action with a thigh strain is responding to treatment.

Manager Paul Jewell dismissed a weekend report suggesting that City might be interested in signing Newcastle's French goalkeeper Lionel Perez.

"There is more chance of me signing Lionel Blair than him," he said.

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