By Alex Hoad

Maidstone's new stadium in the County Town will include a 3G artificial pitch and work to raise the £1.6million of funding needed will begin within weeks.

Club directors Oliver Ash, Terry Casey, pictured, and Bill Williams voted to install a synthetic playing surface and are finalising an investment plan they hope to release to potential backers by the middle of January.

Mr Casey told the club’s official website: "We have spent the past three months reviewing the design and build of the stadium and we are now clear on our financial objectives as the costs will be £1.6m.

"This is the amount of money that it will require to comply with the minimum requirements for the team to continue to play at its current level."

He added: "In the £1.6m, is the cost of a 3G synthetic surface which has been unanimously agreed between the three directors as the best, and some have said the only, way to secure the long-term security of the football club.

"There were two main factors influencing the decision, the first being the financial return that can emanate from the hire of this type of facility. The second reason was that the football club must become a community, with many of the teams using the pitch for training and matches meaning that the players, parents, friends and supporters will come together on the one site.

"The next three weeks could be the most important in the club’s history because we will, by mid-January, have our proposals ready to present to potential investors."