POOLE Town have applied for a Football Foundation grant to help with up to £300,000 worth of ground improvements at Tatnam.

Dolphins chiefs are also seeking planning permission for work at Tatnam which will include a new building to provide adequate social facilities, a new stand to meet minimum covered spectator requirements and an extra turnstile.

The work is necessary if Poole are to satisfy the Football Association’s C grade by March 31 next year, which is the deadline for Dolphins’ home to come up to standard following promotion to the Southern Premier.

Vice-chairman Chris Reeves is confident the club can secure permission following a “very positive” public meeting with residents in May and is equally buoyant about the prospect of gaining finance from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF).

Clubs can apply for up to 50 per cent of improvement costs up to a maximum of £150,000, although Reeves is hopeful the club can find ways to come in under budget.

Reeves told the Daily Echo: “We have to cut our cloth accordingly and we are confident we can do the work for less, but it will be a substantial improvement to the facilities we have.

“I would be extremely surprised if we did not get a significant sum from the Football Foundation but, whatever cards we are dealt, those are the ones we will have to play. We do have a substantial amount towards the project and, one way or another, it will happen because we haven’t come this far to fail now.

“We will need our supporters and Poole businesses more than ever and, while we are grateful to our sponsors, we do have to widen the scope of partners.”

On the planning permission, Reeves added: “We are extremely optimistic. We have met with planners, local councillors and the public and I would like to think of all the applications we have made, this will be one of the least contentious.

“We have the support of both the school and the council in this project and we are keeping to the minimum requirements because the cost is significant enough.”

The only other major concern for Dolphins is the lack of permanent hard standing on the school side of the stadium. Reeves says the club will liaise with Oakdale South Road Middle School and the FA to “find an acceptable solution”.

Reeves also stated that any capital investments made would be transferable should the club’s move to Bearwood eventually come to fruition.