Peter Hood says he has ‘never been more hopeful’ the Odsal Sporting Village project will go ahead.

The Bulls chairman last night told shareholders at the club’s annual meeting the outlook is positive ahead of a crucial decision in January.

Current plans are for a £75 million development that will include an 18,000-seater stadium, a community sports facility and a 120-bed hotel.

A meeting of the project’s steering group takes place tomorrow to gain an update on progress ahead of a decision from Bradford Council’s executive committee in January.

Hood said: “We’ve never been more hopeful and there are more reasons to think it ought to go through this time.

“The council are 100 per cent behind this and our partners are the same. Everyone needs this to happen for the benefit of the city.”

The Bulls hope the planning process will start early next year, necessitating a move away from Odsal at the end of the 2010 campaign.

Bradford City’s Valley Parade is still the club’s preferred destination for any temporary move until the proposed OSV completion date of 2012.

Hood was also pleased with season ticket sales, saying: “They are bang on where they were last year.

“Despite 2009 being a more difficult year than 2008, we are at least in the same position as we were last year and I would like to think we would end up in a better position.”

Meanwhile, the accounts for 2008, which saw the Bulls almost break even, were approved, while Andrew Bennett’s appointment to the board was confirmed. Hood said Bennett’s marketing expertise had been important to the club’s sales efforts and customer relations.