A MAJOR expansion of Gillingham FC's ground that has to be approved, paid for and opened by the start of next season could now be in jeopardy.

Councillors may block the planned Brian Moore Stand at the Town End because, they say, Gillingham's chairman Paul Scally has failed to draw up an agreed transport plan to move fans to and from matches.

They have renewed calls for a park and ride bus service for match visitors. The transport plan was a condition of planning approval for the Rainham stand in 1998. But no transport provision has ever been made by the club.

Until the club's transport plan is approved, the ground capacity has been fixed at 10,875 spectators. Last week, at a series of meetings, residents and councillors aired their concerns about fans parking around the ground.

Three petitions were also considered last week from residents who are fed up with not being able to park close to their homes on match days. An application to build the final stand is expected to be placed before the council by Mr Scally.

He said on television last week that he needed planning permission to start building the new stand in May. If the seated area is not ready for the start of the new season, the Town End will have to be closed. Standing is no longer permitted at football grounds following the Taylor Safety Inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.

It could cost the club many hundreds of thousands of pounds in lost revenue.