Ebbsfleet’s new main stand opens for business on Saturday and commercial director Dave Archer says it will transform the club.

Built at a cost of £5million, the stand has dining space for 102 people on matchdays and 220 for private events and parties.

The revenue it will generate year-round will be central to Fleet’s plan to be a financially self-sustainable football club.

Mr Archer, who also serves as general manager, said: “Every piece of sponsorship around the stadium is now sold so we’ve exhausted our matchday sales commercially.

“There is nothing left to sell but this stand will transform the club because we’ll go from a 25-day-a-year operation to a 365-day operation.

“Matches are the focal point of any football club but clubs have to generate revenue from their non-matchday side as well and this facility will give us that opportunity.

“We’re fortunate to have, in Dr Abdulla Al-Humaidi, a fantastic benefactor. Without his help, we wouldn’t be in the place we are today.

“He continually funds this football club and my vision is to reduce that dependency on Dr Abdulla and bring in more money that will ultimately transform to Daryl McMahon and the first team for player acquisitions and general upkeep and running of the football club.

“Our target remains the same, to become a Football League club.”

Fleet have recruited a catering operations manager and an executive chef to work in the new stand.

Mr Archer said: “At present we use a portakabin for our matchday sponsors.

“We’ve got a 300% increase in our hospitality packages sold but for that, we need to have the facility in this main stand to grow.”