CHAIRMAN Brian Kilcullen has promised Gravesend & Northfleet supporters that the club will never leave Stonebridge Road unless they have a new ground to move into.

Disclosing for the first time that only minimum expenditure will be undertaken in upgrading existing facilities as they prepare for relocation, Mr Kilcullen vowed that gambling with the club’s future was not an option.

As the Fleet await news of their grant application from the Football Foundation for money to install seats in the Northfleet End of the ground, he stressed that while the long-term objective was to leave Stonebridge Road the site would satisfy the required criteria in the short-term.

"We can certainly meet the Football League criteria here," he said. "I could do that tomorrow. With the new Nortfleet End complete our capacity would rise to 5,000, which would give us 1,000 seats and meet with the League requirement.

"After that we would need to install CCTV, computerised turnstiles and upgrade the floodlights. So if we got promoted at the end of next season we could play League football.

"But we are looking long-term because we play in a very old ground. It would cost a lot to refurbish it.

"There is a restriction on space and of course all clubs need new revenue streams outside of football. Those streams have to be incorporated in stadium facilities."

He added: "The other consideration is that to refurbish Stonebridge Road we would first have to knock down the main stand. But you’ve still got to play football out there.

"Too many clubs have left their home never to return. So we want somewhere to move to before we leave here.

Mr Kilcullen confirmed that it was the club’s intention to move to a new ground at the earliest opportunity.

He said: "We put forward a very strong case to the local council. This is what we want to achieve and can you work with us? So far we’ve had a most favourable response."