The man in charge of the 2021 RL World Cup has described the decision to vote down Workington’s multi-million-pound sports stadium as “a lost opportunity for West Cumbria”.

Chief executive Jon Dutton, Chief Executive of RLWC 2021, made the comments as Allerdale council confirmed that Cumbria’s Rugby World Cup dreams are officially over.

The council has written to the organisers of the sporting fixture to tell them that the authority will not be able to host any games in the tournament.

Reacting to the news, Mr Dutton said: “We’re obviously very disappointed by the news and we do feel that it’s a lost opportunity for West Cumbria.

“Our timelines and requirements from our original bidding process will mean we will now reallocate the three group games and team base camp, which will be announced in due course.

“We wish the council the best of luck with their revised project and I am confident that community clubs across West Cumbria will continue to see the benefits of RLWC 2021 via our legacy programme, InspirationALL.”

The borough council made a successful bid to host the sporting event in 2021 but the games hung entirely on the building of a multi-million pound arena.

However, last week, the executive opted instead to look at a smaller scaled-back version.

Under the plans, the stadium on the site of Borough Park would have been shared by Workington Reds and Workington Town, both of which are in desperate need of new facilities.

The council said that the executive’s recent decision meant that it would not be able to meet the already tight deadlines of the RLWC, plus the original stadium requirements in the bidding process, and has therefore withdrawn from the process.

Council leader Marion Fitzgerald said: “As the council moves forward with alternative plans for sporting facilities in the borough we want to continue to work with the RFL in developing a new shared stadium for Workington.

“We hope this will provide a long-term legacy for rugby league and football in the town, borough and West Cumbria as a whole.

“We are naturally disappointed the world cup will not be able to come to the area now and understand the excitement and benefits it would’ve brought.

“However, it is important we get a decision of this scale right for every person in Allerdale and fully consider the business case for a new facility.”

The council has also confirmed that the NHS and Sellafield, who were due to be tenants in the stadium development, had reached the outline of a possible deal but no agreements had been signed.

“Members of the executive committee felt that the level of commitment from the NHS and Sellafield to the original stadium plans was not sufficiently strong for such a high risk decision to be based upon it,” added Mrs Fitzgerald.