Work will start immediately on a £500,000 project to provide a roofed South Stand at Underhill and part of a covered North Stand.... plus much needed provision for viewing for disabled supporters.

Within hours of the green light from the planners that the club's planning application had gone through, chairman Tony Kleanthous held talks with the chairman of Barnet FC Supporters Association, Keith Doe, and the community office, and announced that the club would be introducing a new pricing policy in the New Year, which would go to the end of this season and through season 2008-09.

News that the Barnet FC deferred planning application had been approved by members of the Chipping Barnet Planning and Environment Committee meeting was flashed to the chairman at Underhill, where he was watching Barnet beat Burton Albion in a second round FA Cup replay, and immediately relayed to the 1,379 crowd at half time.

The Daily Telegraph headed their match report on the Bees' Cup progress to meet League 1 Swindon Town in the third round in January: "Barnet progress on two fronts".

The chairman said today that an accelerated build programme would begin to get the stands ready in time for the club to meet the Football League criteria by the end of the season. The club are looking for sponsors for the new stands.

The new South Stand, replacing the temporary seating that was dismantled a fortnight ago, will hold approx. 1,000 spectators and enable the club to meet the necessary criteria of 2,000 covered seats. The part of the North Stand which is being developed will provide approx. 200 covered accommodation for away supporters.

Consideration is being given to moving the Family Stand to the South Stand - and also the North for visitors - but details of this and other aspects of a New Look Underhill in 2008 will emerge later ... the priority is to achieve the League criteria.

It's full steam ahead.

Dennis Signy