Optimism over stadium plans

The council planning board will decide next Thursday whether to give the go-head for the 12,000-capacity stadium on the Guest and Chrimes site near the town centre.

If they do then the club can push on with the finer details of the £20 million scheme with a view to starting building work in the new year.

Stewart told the Advertiser: "We are favourably optimistic that things will proceed in a way we think fit.

"We want to get planning permission and then start work on the site in February.

"At the moment we've got four different contractors and four different architects competing for the opportunity to work with us. They are working at their own cost to put forward tenders to prove to us they can build an iconic stadium.

"We will short-list the best ones probably in December and then make our nominations in the new year.

"I'm also anxious to be able to show the supporters some more detailed drawings of how the stadium will look early in the new year."

Should permission be granted, the Millers will have less than two years to get the scheme from drawing board to completion, with the club aiming to be ready to move into their new home by the start of the 2012/13 season.

By then, Stewart hopes to lift the wraps on a stylish, state-of-the-art ground that will help the club swell its fan base and move into a bright new era.