By Josh Massoud & James Phelps

21 May 2010 - Daily Telegraph

THE blue and white army will today receive the best news they've had all season: their beloved Bulldogs are headed back to Belmore.

We can reveal that CEO Todd Greenberg will this morning join federal politicians at the club's spiritual kennel to announce a $5 million funding package that will return the Bulldogs home in time for next season.

Canterbury plan to spend the money on state-of-the-art training and administrative facilities that surpass their current set-up at Sydney Olympic Park. And in even better news for Bulldogs fans, the board is still chasing further public funding to update the grandstand and possibly allow for future NRL games to be staged at the old ground for the first time since 1998.

"Ever since the new board was elected, they've made it a priority to get back to Belmore," a Bulldogs source told us. "I reckon Todd [Greenberg] has been talking to the Federal Government for 18 months about funding and now it's finally been approved.

"But they don't want to stop there. They still want money from the State Government and [Canterbury] council that might allow games to be played at Belmore again."

It is understood a further $10-15 million would be needed to bring the dilapidated venue up to NRL standard.

But for now, Canterbury are at least poised to be based there forever, with a lease in the vicinity of 25 years set to be signed.

Under the terms of their lease, the Bulldogs will make Belmore available for home games staged by Sydney Olympic Soccer Club.

Olympic officials will also attend the 11.30am press conference, along with Federal ministers Anthony Albanese and Tony Bourke.