Bulls chairman Peter Hood believes there is a duty to the Bradford public for plans of a full-scale Odsal Sporting Village to be recognised.

The proposed £75.5 million project appeared to have hit the skids earlier this week when a shortfall in funds caused Bradford Council to pursue alternative options.

A cut in funding for one of the major partners, Bradford College, meant plans to finance the development – which would include an 18,000-capacity stadium for the Bulls and top-class community sports facilities – with public money became completely unrealistic.

But Hood insists that should not mean the end for OSV, instead pointing to a developer-led scheme as the only way forward.

He said: “The people are entitled to a stadium and facilities that compare with those in other cities across the country.

“The full-scale scheme would be the best for the city and all the partners but it has to be affordable and it would be with private investment.

“The council has got a hole in the centre of the city because of a private developer so it wouldn't be unfair to say they would prefer a publicly-funded project.

“But the way to deliver OSV in the current climate would be to go down the private route.

“If it was publicly funded it would have to be scaled down and you would get more or less bang for your buck depending on the scale of the project.”

The Telegraph & Argus understands potential developers for the project have been explored in the past, including Greenbank, who worked on the successful Leigh Sports Village, home to Championship side Leigh Centur-ions.

But, due to the shortfall in public funds, the Council revealed five potential alternative schemes, ranging in cost from £22.5m to £39.6m, only three of which include imminent improvement of the Bulls’ stadium facilities.

All the options would involve the development of community sports facilities, either in place of the current Richard Dunn Sports Centre or on the neighbouring Northern View Hospital site.

But the range of facilities would not match those in plans for OSV and the two cheapest plans would not even involve Grattan Stadium.

Two of the remaining options would see cover provided for all current terracing, while the final scheme would increase the capacity of covered seating to 10,000 and leave 10,000 uncovered standing.

But Hood feels those options would offer less value and is keen to press ahead with the original plans.

The Bulls are mindful of the fact their stadium must meet Super League criteria for licence bids in 2011 and 2014 or else their top-flight future would fall into doubt.

“You’ve got a decrepit Richard Dunn Sports Centre and a stadium that, as a whole, is not fit for purpose,” said Hood.

“Undoubtedly, the £75.5m scheme would be best for everyone. The more you spend, the better you get.”