Plans to extend the main stand at the Gallagher Stadium are just the start as Maidstone United aim for the Football League.

The £500,000 project would provide an extra 350 seats – including 50 for vice-presidents – and help raise the capacity from 2,226 to more than 3,000.

Long-term, the club want to develop the ground to Football League standard with new stands behind each goal as part of a three-phase scheme.

Chief executive Bill Williams said: “The timescale depends on our progression on the pitch. Our objective is to move through the leagues as quickly as possible. What stands in the way, of course, is results.

"If we’re promoted to Conference South, we need a 3,000 capacity with the ability to go to 4,000. If we went up again, we’d need 4,000 with the ability to go to 5,000.

“If we achieved three promotions on the trot, we’d need to get all the building work done in three years.”

Maidstone unveiled plans to extend the main stand and build new turnstiles at their season launch party last Thursday.

Work should start in May and be completed for the 2015-16 season. The project replaces the previous proposal to develop the north end of the ground to meet the 3,000 capacity required for Conference South.