Stringent terms will have to be met by Sam Hammam including £11m of road improvements and the replacing of the athletics stadium before a brick can be laid for the new football ground.
Sam, it's said, will have to fork out around £1m to carry out a series of major impact studies.
Council leader Russell Goodway was still very upbeat and said he saw no problem in signing a heads of terms agreement.
"I think we have done all we can to protect the council's interest and that of the council taxpayer," he told the Echo. "In fact, we have gone further. I am satisfied, based on advice, that we have built into the proposed heads of terms agreement the necessary safeguards. The club will have to meet the most stringent conditions.
"If Sam Hammam is able to satisfy all the council's requirements I don't think it is unreasonable that the council should enter an agreement."
City Chief Exec David Temme said"I would be disappointed with any delay in the signing of a heads of term agreement with the council," he said.
"There is an opportunity to get to the First Division and Premiership, but a new stadium is crucial to that."
As things stand, it is likely to be the 2005-06 season or probably 2006-07 for the new stadium to be completed."
The full story can be read here.