A delegation from the club travelled to Stormont yesterday to brief MLAs on the redevelopment plans and to ask the Executive to provide £5 million towards the building of a state-of-the-art 8,000 seater stadium. The club have also asked the government in the Republic for the same amount, pledging to raise the remaining £5 million themselves.

Former club chief executive Jim Roddy said tightening UEFA criteria on ground specifications could spell the end for famous European nights at the stadium.

"If we qualify for Europe again and we had to play our games outside of the city that would be a major indictment on the city of Derry," he said.

Mr Roddy also said he was "delighted" with the support of local MLAs. "We are delighted a the reception we have received from the MLAs and MPs from the Foyle, East Derry and West Tyrone constituencies today at Stormont.

"We presented our plans around the stadium development and the wider regeneration benefits for the Brandywell area and the North West as a whole. We are extremely happy to have 100 per cent support from those representatives who attended the meeting or those who passed on apologies for not attending. We are assured of their continuing support to bring our proposals to a successful conclusion," he said.

Jack McCauley, chair of the Brandywell Properties company set up by the club to deliver the project, said there was a misperception that not everyone in the city supported the plan. He insisted this was not the case and urged local MLAs to prove that point.

"I would ask you, beg you, plead with you that, from now on, we speak on the Brandywell with one voice," he told Assembly members. "We want to try to ensure that Belfast and Dublin get the message that this is what we all want for the north west."

He added: "In doing so, you will be doing a service not only to Derry City Football Club but to the north west in general."