Bristol City Football Club chairman Steve Lansdown says he is now feeling "positive" about his plans to build a new edge-of-town stadium. It follows a top-level meeting with council leaders in the wake of the recent city council planning meeting which debated the project. Although councillors decided they were minded to approve the new stadium plans for the Championship club, they also ruled against some new housing alongside on the grounds it was in the green belt. Cash generated from the site proposed for housing, known as Southlands, was a key factor in financing the new stadium.
Bristol Evening Post

Bristol City boss Gary Johnson is promising to deal "openly and honestly" with supporters at Monday's stakeholders meeting at Ashton Gate. Bristol City fans, including season card holders, shareholders and members, have an opportunity to quiz the manager and club chairman Steve Lansdown during what is effectively an open annual meeting in the Dolman Exhibition Hall (7pm). And Johnson insists he will not flinch from answering difficult questions. He said: "I'm looking forward to it and I'll answer any questions that come my way. "We have nothing to hide here and I'll be honest with the supporters.
Bristol Evening Post

Liam Fontaine is all too aware of the potential for Bristol City to psyche themselves out of contention before a ball has been kicked in anger at The Hawthorns this afternoon. After all, the prospect of tackling an in-form West Bromwich Albion side packed full of internationals and former Premier League stars is sufficient to unnerve even the most seasoned of Championship players. Second only to Newcastle United in the table after 16 games, the Baggies served notice of their goal-scoring prowess when walloping Watford 5-0 last time out. Beaten 4-1 on their last visit to The Hawthorns two seasons ago, City will be all too aware of the threat posed by opponents who boast a myriad of attacking options. Meticulous in his attention to detail, Robins manager Gary Johnson will have shown his players footage of past Albion performances, briefed them in team meetings and made carefully-considered contingency plans to nullify the opposition. But defender Fontaine, available for selection for the first time since damaging ankle ligaments at Derby County in September, believes it is possible to worry too much about the other side on occasions such as this. He fears by concerning themselves overly with the threat posed by West Brom, City's players could fall prey to the kind of insecurity currently being experienced by Icelandic bankers. "You can think about the opposition a bit too much at times and it can be a little counter-productive," said the Londoner, who proved his recovery from injury in a reserve-team fixture at Southampton's training ground earlier in the week. "We know West Brom have good players and players who have been in the Premier League before. We are also aware of their attacking options and we know how dangerous they can be playing at home in front of their own supporters.
Bristol Evening Post

Bristol City defender Christian Ribeiro has joined Stockport County on a month's loan. The Wales Under-21 international goes straight into the League One club's squad for today's match at home to Exeter City. Ribeiro has hardly featured for Bristol City since suffering serious knee ligament damage more than a year ago.
Bristol Evening Post