By Juliette MaxamA FOOTBALL club want to build houses on part of its car park to fund improvements to its stadium in case of promotion.Braintree Town Football Club have drawn up a plan for 40 homes on the car park at its Clockhouse Way ground.

By Juliette Maxam

A FOOTBALL club want to build houses on part of its car park to fund improvements to its stadium in case of promotion.

Braintree Town Football Club have drawn up a plan for 40 homes on the car park at its Clockhouse Way ground.

The club want to make improvements to meet the requirements of the Football Conference. It needs extra seating and toilet facilities, larger dressing rooms and new floodlights, as well as the ability to segregate opposing supporters.

They hope to build a new two-storey clubhouse and a state-of-the-art dressing room block with modern training facilities.

Its main stand would be doubled in size and two new covered terraced stands will be built at each end of the ground, but capacity would remain at 4,000.

Last season the club finished fourth in the Ryman League Premier, having been second in the table after Christmas, and eventually missed out on promotion in the end-of-season play-offs.

Lee Harding, club chairman, said: “The developments we are hoping to make are key to the long-term future and security of the club. It's not about making the ground bigger, but improving what we have.

“Our plans are self-funding and if we are successful, we will have a stadium where everyone will able to watch our games under cover. We will be ready for promotion if and when it comes. Without the improvements, the club cannot progress.”

George Borg, manager, added: “We did well last season and I have strengthened the side with the signing of the league's leading goalscorer, former Manchester City striker Carl Griffiths, centre-half Chris Wild and goalkeeper Nick Morgan from Southend United.

“I believe the club is now ready to take the next step up and the club's plans will give the lads a great facility in which to play and train. All we need now is the okay to go ahead.”

The club's proposal will be studied by Braintree District Council and its chief executive, Allan Reid, said: “The club is an important part of the local community and relies on local support for its continuing success.

“Everyone will be keen to see the proposal, which must follow the normal planning process and be judged on its merits. The council will be keen to help if it can.”

juliette.maxam@eadt.co.uk