MAIDSTONE UNITED FC face an anxious few weeks as they submit their planning application for a new stadium and await the Dr Martens League's final decision on their promotion bid.

Chairman Paul Bowden-Brown is due to receive the draft plans for the Stones' proposed ground at James Whatman Way in the county town within the next few days. C"nstruction company Civils, who worked on Crawley's Broadfield stadium, have almost completed the initial design for a 6,000-capacity ground including up to 800 seats.

Bowden-Brown will seek the views of supporters during a two-week consultation process before making a formal approach to the borough council at the beginning of May.

The club hope to get approval by the end of August.

Bowden-Brown said: "Things have taken a little longer than we expected but we want to ensure everything is right and hopefully we will be playing in our new home at the start of the 2003-04 season."

Maidstone are still waiting for confirmation they will be eligible for promotion should they finish in the Bass Brewers Kent LeagueÕs top two. Kent League secretary Roy Vinter confirmed that the league have passed on Stones' application, but said the Dr Martens League had said earlier in the season they would not consider Maidstone for promotion this season because of the groundsharing arrangement at Sittingbourne and Central Park's distance from the county town. However, it is now understood the league will not make a final decision until Maidstone's final position is known.