County aiming to get a 'sniff' of the big time

HOPES £50M STADIUM PLAN WILL BRING 'HUGE' BENEFITS

- By DECLAN CAREY

STOCKPORT County's stadium expansion has been tipped to bring 'huge' benefits to the borough.

The near £50m project will see the League One club playing in a redevelopment stadium with space for 18,000 fans packed into Edgeley Park once the work is complete.

Planning permission for the scheme was granted last week, to add 7,400 seats with a new east stand and south stand.

County made it to the League One playoffs last season in a bid to gain promotion to the Championship, but lost out to Leyton Orient.

The club is currently fourth in the league, with two wins and a draw from its opening three games.

Dave Marchbank, chair of Stockport County Supporters' Cooperative, said: “The majority of the fan base wanted County to remain at Edgeley Park, so it [the stadium expansion] was crucial really.