Work on Ebbsfleet United's new £3.5million main stand will not start until next summer.

Archaeological complications - being dealt with by Kent County Council - have meant the proposed demolition of the Liam Daish Stand at Stonebridge Road hasn't happened yet.

Fleet vice-chairman Peter Varney told KentOnline last month that he was worried about the possible impact construction work during the season would have on the team's promotion hopes.

And now club bosses have decided the diggers won't move in for at least nine months.

A statement on Ebbsfleet's website said: "The club was granted a detailed planning consent for the construction of the new main stand on the Stonebridge Road side on April 8.

"There were 47 separate conditions attached to the consent and our design team have been working hard since April to discharge those pre-construction conditions that must be met before work can start. This was finally achieved on July 29.

"It was our objective to demolish the existing stand and to build the new superstructure within the spring/summer months but this has not proved to be possible.

"We have to be mindful of the effects of this delay on both the first team and our supporters.

"Our ambition is to challenge for promotion to the Vanarama National League this coming season. Any uncertainty or upheaval could be detrimental to the team and our ambitions.

"Additionally, the loss of the covered Liam Daish Stand will significantly reduce the amount of rain cover for our supporters and restrict attendances in a season where we have a number of high-profile Kent derbies.

"Accordingly, the club has decided to defer demolition, archaeological excavations and the construction of the new main stand until the 2016 close season."

Ebbsfleet had asked the National League to schedule their home fixtures against Dartford, Maidstone and Margate for the second half of the season, when the new main stand would have been ready.

With only three sides of the ground open, Stonebridge Road's capacity would have been reduced to around 1,900.

Fleet will host Margate on January 23 and Dartford on March 28, although the visit of Maidstone comes relatively early, on October 3.

The reverse fixture against Stones at the Gallagher Stadium on August 11 is being affected by building work, with the county town club extending their exisiting main stand.

Capacity for the derby will therefore only be 2,300 and Ebbsfleet have been given an allocation of 250 tickets.