ARGYLE Chairman Paul Stapleton has today revealed that the South Stand development could begin in 2010.

The first stage of the rebuilding of Home Park took place at the beginning of the 2001-02 season, when the Devonport, Lyndhurst and Barn Park ends were redeveloped.

The club overcame the massive hurdle of purchasing the freehold to Home Park in December 2006 and the Chairman was keen to inform fans of the latest stage we have reached in the process.

He said: "The Area Action Plan, which was reviewed by a government inspector at the end of July, was approved, and we are part of that Area Action Plan.

"Consequently, we were able to put in an advert for a developer. We have had responses to that advertisement, although the words credit crunch have come into the market place.

"A bit of that has affected the industry but we have had replies from development partners, who are now looking at the second phase of this process. The first phase was to apply for a development partner and the second phase is to appoint somebody to do their costing and come back to us.

"They are going to come and visit us in the next two weeks and then they are going to produce the facts and figures. I am interested in the figures because I want to see where we are with funding and the difference it will make to the football club. They have promised to do this by the end of December.

"If we like what we see, we can put in for planning and, depending on how long that takes, it could be the end of the season when we will have the money and planning in place.

"We would then be able to say to fans that we will probably build in 2010.

"It is great news that the freehold has been purchased. It is great news that the area action plan has been approved. It is great news that we have people who want to take us to the next phase.

"There are a lot of people battening down the hatches but we have found people interested in bringing commercial activity to this site.

"I have had a meeting with the council and they have asked us to join in with their master plan. We are trying to do something but we are on the back of them [the council] because they are looking at the Life Centre project finishing in 2011 to be ready, if needed, for Olympic 2012 camps - they want us to be finished at the same time.

"They have also said that, if they are going to improve the road and infrastructure, we have to join with them. We have told our planning consultants that they need to have a meeting with the consultants being used by the council to discuss the overall master plan.

"It is a very positive step.

"We want to get this done.

"We want to get it finished."