Chester City have announced plans for a multi-million pound reconstruction of their 16-year-old Deva Stadium home.

City chairman Stephen Vaughan is close to finalising a deal with a Liverpool-based property developer.

And the club hope to start work early next year on a project that would mean a big increase their 6,000 capacity.

Chester, in the lower half of League Two, have been at the Deva since moving back to the city after two years of exile in Macclesfield in August 1992.

They attracted fewer than 3,000 for Sunday's border derby with Shrewsbury Town, who provided more than half the crowd.

But Property First Asset Managament Ltd managing director Gary Metcalf is very excited by the potential of the ground, which straddles the England-Wales border.

The potential of the club is huge PFAM managing director Gary Metcalf

"We do know there is another bid on the table. But, in our opinion, our bid seems a lot more attractive.

"And, provided it is approved by Chester City Council, work could start as early as January 2009."

Chester are a long way short of the sort of gates they used to attract at their old Sealand Road home, which they left in 1990.

But Metcalf said: "The potential of the club is huge. And, if we are given the opportunity, then it would have a big impact on the club, the fans and the local community.

"And the council will earn a lot of money, as they own the stadium."

Although they have plans for all four sides of the ground, the main East Stand will be the most dramatically altered.

Under the proposed scheme, it would be turned into a four-tier structure, housing 40,000 square feet of office facilities, a gymnasium, cafe and bistro, new lounges, plus several retail outlets.