Championship side Cardiff City were today given an ultimatum by the city's council to deliver their new stadium by the end of the year or they could move in and build it then lease it to the club, in a similar way to that which has happened in Swansea with the 'White Rock' stadium.
The 30,000 seater project at Leckwith has been in doubt for some time, with funding for the stadium unavailable until the a majority of the retail side of the project has been sorted.
Council leader Rodney Berman has warned the club that they may take over the reins to make sure the stadium does go ahead.
An agreement has been reached with developers Capital & Regional allowing them until December 31 - with the previous deadline expiring on April 30 - to reach a target of pre-letting two-thirds of retail space, which would bring about the funding to bring the project to fruition.
Councillor Berman said: "We can't just let this drift on indefinitely.
"If the football club is not able to deliver then we would consider stepping in. I think December 31 is a fair and reasonable time to gauge whether progress is being made.
"We would owe it to the people of Cardiff and the club's fans to look at the whole scenario.
"If it is not delivered we have to look at an alternative approach.
"How it is delivered is less important than delivering it."
However, Cardiff City's David Temme said: "It is not the club that isn't delivering, it is Capital & Regional."
"My job is to help make sure they do," he added.
"We are in the business of competing for retailers who are playing off the Leckwith site against the sports village development to get the best deal.
"We have to make clear the advantages Leckwith has, including better road links and quicker delivery time."
Mr Temme, who has been replaced by former Leeds chairman Peter Risdale as Chief Executive at the club, is now concentrating on the new stadium, and believed new retailers could be on board by mid-August.