Nolan said Birmingham would need "some sort of time machine" to meet its expected completion date of 2005. He claimed that the £324m stadium, designed by Arup, would require a long-winded planning inquiry as it is to be located on greenbelt land.
But a source at Arup said two eminent planning QCs had cleared the project and it would beat a planning inquiry.
Birmingham timed the launch of its bid to coincide with the submission of a report into the stadium. This is thought to weigh up the strengths and weaknesses of Birmingham, Coventry and Wembley.