CHAIRMAN Eddie Mitchell has revealed Cherries are considering revised plans for a new permanent stand at Dean Court – which would not be ready in time for next season.

Mitchell says original proposals to replicate the North Stand at the empty end of the stadium could be shelved in favour of building a bigger facility.

The matter will be on the agenda at the club’s next board meeting later this month – and could see a temporary stand erected in the meantime.

Although Cherries had been hoping to have a new permanent stand in place for the start of next season, Mitchell now concedes it is unlikely.

Cherries, whose average gate this season was 6,852, can expect to draw bigger crowds in the Championship, with Peterbor-ough’s figure of 8,215 currently the lowest in the second tier.

Mitchell, who first revealed plans for a permanent stand to the Daily Echo in December, said: “We are in two minds as to whether we build a replica of the North Stand or look further ahead and build something slightly bigger. If we did that, we would have to go back to planning.

“We have got a board meeting the week after next when it will be discussed. If we were to replicate the North Stand, it would only take our capacity to under 13,000, possibly a lot less because you have to leave so much space.

“As a result, we need to decide whether we redesign and go for something bigger. We would look silly if we had the opportunity to build a stand to increase the capacity to around 15,000 and had to demolish another one. It is something we may want to re-plan to get the capacity higher.

“One way or another, there will be a stand there but it will probably be a temporary one for part of next season. If we were to build a permanent one, we wouldn’t be able to have it ready for the start of the season. It needs a lot of planning so we might well opt to go for a bigger one.”

The south end of Goldsands Stadium, which was the site of the Main Stand before the ground was redeveloped in 2001, has remained empty for the past 12 years. It has housed a temporary fourth stand to accommodate supporters, both home and away, in previous seasons.

Mitchell, who has overseen considerable improvements to the stadium since he became chairman in 2009, also said the club would be starting work on a new two-storey pavilion, including changing rooms and showers, overlooking the new training ground.