A COUNCIL boss believes Southend United could follow in the footsteps of Premier League club Swansea City, with revised stadium proposals imminent.

Ron Woodley, Southend Council leader, believes the revised plans for a new home at Fossett’s Farm could see the club follow the example of the Welsh club, who are now a mainstay of the English top flight.

Mr Woodley was briefed on the plans alongside other members of the council by Southend United chairman Ron Martin.

The plans are set to include a 22,000 seater stadium, a 12-screen cinema and a 13-storey tower block of 170 apartments.

Mr Woodley believes the latest version of the plans is the best one to come forward so far, especially as the club has just been promoted to League One.

He said: “It seems this is the one.

“Ron seems very buoyant and having a new stadium will fit in with his aspiration to be a Championship club. You see teams take off when they get a new stadium – look at Swansea for example.

“A new planning application will be needed as the previous permissions have lapsed and the legal side of previous ones weren’t completed, but Ron has just got a bit of tidying up bits and pieces.”

As well as the cinema, apartments and stadium, which resembles Bayern Munich’s futuristic Allianz Arena, a hotel, retail park, conference suite, plus a new total of 1,800 spaces for car parking is also planned.

A new addition will be a fans’ walkway up to the stadium, called Avenue Approach.

For fans, vehicle access will be from Eastern Avenue, the Fossetts Farm link road, and Sutton Road.

The last planning permission given to the scheme was in April 2013, which was needed as the previous 2009 approval had lapsed.

Business experts believe the Blues’ promotion to League One will give the team a shot in the arm.

David Burch, from the Essex Chamber of Commerce said: “It’s obviously positive news for Southend and really good for the club.

“It will help put Southend even more on the map.

“I think it will attract a new set of visitors to the town who will hopefully realise the many attractions we have on offer.

“The Southend economy will benefit from people coming to visit.

“It will definitely put more money in the Southend economy.”

Ken Jarvis, from fans forum ShimperZone, added: “Promotion will do wonders for us, as you’ve got big clubs with established supporter bases coming down.

“We won’t be seeing the likes of Morecambe with 60 away fans at Roots Hall.

“I think average attendances could go up by 1,000 or 2,000 people now, and hopefully the Wembley experience will make people want to come back.”

As previously reported, the club will net an extra £300,000 from the Football League for promotion as they will be playing in a higher league.