KELTY HEARTS have announced ambitious plans to build a 300-seat grandstand complete with new community and hospitality facilities.

A sensory room, an extended community function hall with capacity for 150 people, a community club cafe and a 100-seat hospitality and sports lounge overlooking the pitch are among the facilities the club want to create under the proposed development at New Central Park.

The East of Scotland League side, who left junior football last season to pursue their goal of becoming members of the Scottish Football Association and the SPFL (Scottish Professional Football League) pyramid, say they want to “provide one of the best indoor and outdoor facilities in Scotland” and “a vibrant hub in the community, seven days a week, for people of all ages”.

New changing rooms, offices for managers and coaches, a gym for community and club use and parking for approximately 400 cars have also been planned to be created, with Kelty – who have a growing community arm with teams at various age levels – hopeful that work will take place in the new year.

The plans are in addition to an existing application to develop the west side of the Bath Street ground by replacing the existing enclosure with a seated stand capable of housing 250 spectators.

Fife Council approved the plans in September after they were submitted in June, with a £500 ‘seat for life’ initiative to help raise money resulting in almost £25,000 worth of “serious notes of interest” in just two days.

A Kelty statement said: “The club are now in a position to reveal its ambitious plans to make New Central Park a real community sports, social and recreation hub for all ages, male and female.

“All going well work will commence and be completed in 2018.

“Our plans for this development have been accelerated forward after a neighbour has recorded numerous complaints regarding noise from our temporary building, which played a part in our existing social club licence being suspended for four weeks.

“Our sports lounge is not part of this licence or the complaints.

“Most of this investment has been secured with the next steps being agreements with Fife Council, Kelty Hearts FC and our architects.”

Manager Thomas Courts added: “There’s no doubt we could do more in the community and we’ve had a lot of support.

“The club have said from day one that this expansion has to be inclusive and there are different initiatives we are about to launch in the run-up to the festive period.

“It’s great to see the club promote these plans. I’m proud of the club who are making sure that we are a hub in the community.”

If Kelty gained promotion from the East of Scotland League, they would move up to the Lowland League, which provides the opportunity to move into the SPFL.