Bradford Bulls chiefs today pledged to press ahead with their own development of Odsal Stadium after a week of crises.

The move follows the failure of developers Sterling Capitol to sign a contract on Friday for its planned £25 million development of the stadium.

The Bulls decided on Saturday to seek planning permission for its own £9 million plus scheme which includes covered stands, bars and hospitality facilities.

The club was expected to make an official announcement of its decision today.

Last week, Bulls chairman Chris Caisley made the bombshell announcement the club was ditching the Sterling Capitol scheme for a 30,000-seat stadium because of constant "stalling" over signing of the agreement.

The proposals now being put forward by the club were initially submitted to Bradford Council five years ago.

At that time the council did not consider them because it said it was fully committed to the £200 million Superdome scheme which never materialised.

Today, Mr Caisley told the Telegraph & Argus the club would submit planning applications for a slightly amended scheme which would give an overall development, rather than a smaller version covering just part of the stadium.

Sterling Capitol was chosen by Bradford Council - which owns the stadium - as developer a year ago last April. No planning application has yet been submitted by Sterling Capitol and it has made no public statement on the scheme for more than a year.

The T&A revealed two months ago that shopping giant Tesco was joining Sterling Capitol over the scheme.

Bradford Council has been in talks with Sterling Capitol and it is understood there is a shortfall in funding of at least £7 million, mainly because of the cost of dealing with a landfill tip at the site.

Talks are being held with Yorkshire Forward, the Government regeneration agency, about the funding.

Mr Caisley said today he had notified council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton, chief executive Ian Stewart and Sterling Capitol of the club's decision before its Super League play-off match against Leeds Rhinos on Saturday evening.

He said he had spoken to Sterling Capitol managing director Martin Croxon who told him the decision about signing the contract was in the hands of Sunderland Football Club boss Bob Murray, who heads Sterling Capitol.

Coun Eaton said the council had not changed its position which was that it was awaiting the final signatures on the contract agreed with Sterling Capitol.