The new stand, for which planning permission has been received, will cover almost the entire length of the field and will provide additional modern, seated, covered facilities for Knights supporters, guests and visitors.

Knights chairman Steve Lloyd said that the club were conscious that a key factor in the eventual realisation of their Guinness Premiership ambitions was the need to drive up attendances and, an important component of doing that was to continually improve facilities.

He said rugby union was very much a family-orientated sport and said that the Knights were anxious to provide an environment in which young and old alike could watch top quality sport in pleasant and palatial surroundings.

The ground floor of the new stand will provide a social and meeting area 40 metres long with a large bar and food outlets. As well as being used for 1st XV match days, it will also be available for various sporting events and other corporate and personal events.

At the northern end of the floor there will be an enlarged shop for club leisure and sportswear, a "Playing for Success" education facility, the home of the Knights charity DIRECT and office accommodation to replace the three portable buildings currently in use.

The first floor will have eight boxes and two large suites overlooking the pitch and will be available for matchday hospitality and conference and banqueting functions.

"A new top class kitchen will ensure that Castle Park's enviable reputation for top quality, award winning food, will continue in the new development as well as the existing clubhouse," said media manager Martin Haythorne.

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