A decision on whether speedway will return to Odsal will lie with the owners of Bradford Bulls, the Telegraph & Argus understands.

A spokesman for the Rugby Football League (RFL), which owns the lease of the Super League side’s ground, said it had “no official comment” to make on last week’s announcement that Bradford Council had approved the sport’s return to the city.

But it is believed that Bradford Bulls’ owners Omar Khan and Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe will be allowed to decide if speedway can make a return to Bradford after a 16-year absence.

Co-owner Mr Sutcliffe said the club would hold “detailed discussions” with representatives of the British Speedway Promoters’ Association and technical advisors who would be able to assess whether its ground is suitable for racing over the next few weeks.

“We need to see what’s possible and the costs to bear,” Mr Sutcliffe said.

“The principal thing for us is to make sure the rugby club is maintained.

“Ideally we’d like to get the lease to Odsal back, but we are very grateful to the RFL for its support.”

The governing body had expressed its ‘surprise’ when speedway president Tony Mole submitted a planning application for the scheme and had claimed it had received no contact from him or any other party before it was lodged.

But the T&A understands Kidderminster-based promoter Mr Mole has since written to the RFL to ‘clear up’ any confusion.

Mr Mole has said work would continue to secure a licence for a team in the Premier League – the second tier of speedway – after the authority used delegated powers to approve a bid to bring the competition back to the city.

The sport disappeared from Bradford in 1997, immediately after Bradford Dukes won speedway’s inaugural Elite League title.

The promotor said if a licence was granted by the British Speedway Promoters’ Association in September, racing could return at the start of next season.

The Council decision to grant planning permission was made as the previous track had remained ‘in situ’ and had not been ‘abandoned’ since consent was granted in 1984.