If say we did get into the league again isnt there a minimum capacity needed of something like 4,000 ?
Minimum of 4000 to get (or stay) in the Conference National with a minimum of 500 seats. If promoted to FL the club would also need to have the ability to go up to 5000 capacity with 1000 seated (I think this has to be achieved within a year). The seating has to rise to 2000 after 3 years, this is why we have the green seats in the YS end as we needed these to make the 2000 seat requirement.
So most of the suggestions on here are non starters if DN gets his wish and we are Conf Nat on 5 years. In addition the 2 ends must be terraced unless the capacity is met within the rest of the ground, so no open flat standing behind the goals unless we can meet this criteria.
This is going to sound ungrateful as DN has worked miracles so far but if this isn't done right from the get go we'll end up an average Unibond(Conf North at best) side if we go for a Nantwich style ground. Personally don't think we should go with what we have now but on a smaller scale as suggested by B-shire as this would make it much harder to go bigger which would be needed to go higher, and also much costlier replacing small terraces/stands with bigger versions which is effectively paying twice.
I would say build a small 500 seater covering half the length of the pitch with a terrace down the other side of 2000 and 1500 behind a goal to get us the 4000 needed if we are in Conf Nat(obviously this can be scaled down to whatever league we're in requirements*) when it does go ahead.
If and when we ever get to FL then build the other half of the seated stand down the side and put a temp stand on the other end to get the other 500 needed for capacity, this then gives 2 years to finance a further 1000 seater stand behind the goal to replace the temp stand.
* A grade (conf Nat) 4000 capacity - 500 seats. If ends are to be included in capacity they must be terraced
* B grade (conf North/South) 3000 capacity - 500 covered of which 250 seats. Ends can be flat (non terraced). Need to upgrade to 500 seats to be eligble for promotion.
* C grade (Unibond/Zameretto/Ryman) 1950 capacity - 500 covered of wich 250 seats. Ends can be flat (non terraced).
FA ground gradingFailing all this and mine (and I would guess most others) preference would be to acquire York Street. I know DN has said this is a non-starter but surely it wouldn't work out any more expensive and if development is needed to increase revenue surely the YS stand can be replaced. I know this would use some of our already limited car park but everything suggested just seems to be re-inventing the wheel as we have a FL standard ground already.