A new 22,000-seater stadium could be built in time for Southend United's 2008 season, the Echo can reveal.

Club chairman Ron Martin today revealed he would submit the club's new stadium plans to Southend Council this September, in the hope building could start by spring next year.

The detailed design for the new ground at Fossetts Farm, which is believed to cost more than £25million and be almost double the capacity of Roots Hall, will go before the planning committee in January.

The announcement comes just days before the Championship gets under way this Saturday.

An excited Mr Martin said: "Plans for the new stadium are at an advanced stage now.

"After they are submitted in late September, there will be a 16-week public consultation.

"During that time, the designs will be available for everyone to see and we hope to get the go-ahead."

The new ground is to include a hotel, restaurants and conference facilities, which will be used by the club on match days to maximise their earning potential, and hired out at other times to maintain income.

The Fossetts Farm site would also provide the launchpad the team needs to boost its profile and keep hold of a Championship spot.

The Blues' current home at Roots Hall is capable of holding just 12,363 fans, but in practice, it is often less than that when seating is cordoned off to segregate rival supporters.

Mr Martin said: "It's an important time, because the speed in which the plans are approved and construction commences is vital.

"We cannot compete in the Championship if we stay at Roots Hall there is an insufficient capacity there.

"We also cannot provide the level of service that modern football demands. We will be sold out for most of our games this year and that's why we need to move."

Southend's ground will be constructed by HOK Sport, who were responsible for building Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium, the new Wembley Stadium, Wimbledon's Centre Court and Sydney's Telstra Stadium, which hosted the 2000 Olympics.

Mr Martin has yet to consider the name of the new stadium, but said it could be sponsored by a local company to boost the Blues' funds even further.

He said: "It's certainly something for us to consider.

"I know that Coventry City will be getting £1million for the next ten years from Ricoh for calling their ground the Ricoh Arena, so we could decide to also go down that road and get a significant investment from someone."

He believed the new stadium would be welcomed by the club's supporters, who have seen their side win two successive promotions on their road to the Champion-ship, which starts this Saturday.

Mr Martin said: "I know that this proposal will create a stadium that everyone associated with Southend United will be proud of.

"This is the first time I have had the chance to use my property skills since coming to the club and it's a very exciting time for us all."

* * * Southend fans have united to cheer on plans for their team's new stadium at Fossetts Farm.

Blues supporters said it would give both the side and the town a higher profile.

They also felt the bigger ground could lead the future of the team in only an upwards direction.

James Falkingham, co-editor of Shrimpers fan-zine, All At Sea, said: "This is absolutely fantastic news if it all goes through.

"It is important for the club to move to Fossetts Farm if they want to sustain a position in the second tier of English football. There are many reasons, but it is mainly financially.

"It will be a shame to leave Roots Hall, as it has bags of character, but it's an exciting prospect for everybody involved with the club."

Season ticket holder Ken Jarvis, 52, of Cricket-field Grove, Leigh, said: "I hope the council will view this favourably.

"The thought of it having 22,000 seats will bode well for the future, as we hope to consolidate as a Championship club and later on to get into the Premiership. We need the new ground to move to the next stage."

Jon Harbage, 22, of Woodlands Close, Hockley, said: "We can't really compete at this level without the new ground.

"If you look at clubs like Reading, with their new ground, they have a steady income stream. We can't get by at this level with 8,000 fans paying once a fortnight. One concern is I don't know how they are going to come up with the money."

Martin Cass, 24, another season ticket holder, said: "It shows the club is destined for a secure future and is developing the infrastructure to attract bigger names and keep the ones that we have."

Simon Adams, 24, said the news would be a boost to everyone living in the town.

He said: "The club is a vital part of the local economy. It helps local business on match days and this will also be a huge boost to the development of the town."

* * * Business will be a big winner if a new stadium is built, but infrastructure could be a problem, according to a south Essex business leader.

Mark Willmore, manager of South Essex Chamber of Commerce, said the new stadium could only be of benefit to residents and businesses, but warned the town's road infrastructure may not cope.

He said: "The news a new stadium is now close to achievement must be good news for both the club and the town. Southend United's success recently has made residents feel good and that has a spin-off effect on business too.

"This new development, along with everything else happening in the town, will create a huge amount of new business opportunities.

"However, my only fear is we do not have the road infrastructure to support the increasing amount of activity which developments like the stadium, the university and Marine Plaza will generate."