ANDOVER Town have been given the green light for promotion by the Southern League’s ground grading team.

Town had a visit from officials last Tuesday, who will recommend to the FA that the Portway Stadium be deemed fit for purpose in the Southern League if they achieve promotion from the Wessex Premier this season.

The grading means Town will be able to move up into the Southern League Division One South and West if they are offered promotion at the end of this season.

The club had to complete minor changes including widening the pitch and the installation of a press bench.

However Town officials are hoping to complete changes of their own over the summer.

This includes levelling and opening up the currently unused West Stand to make the Portway a four sided stadium.

Club chairman Stuart Barlow is optimistic the club can achieve this.

He said: “We’ve already done work to get the stadium ready to meet the Southern League requirements.

“We’ve got a bit more work we want to do over summer but we are on course to be able to do this.

“I’m really pleased we have been passed.”

Speculation amongst promotion hopeful clubs is that the Wessex Premier League’s top two teams will be offered a chance to step up at the end of this season. With Salisbury F.C nine points clear at the top, and with three games in hand over nearest rivals Blackfield and Langley, it looks as if the battle will be for second place.

Town sit four points behind Blackfield with seven games left to play.

Mr Barlow is confident that his club are in with a chance of clinching a promotion spot and is already looking for ways to prepare the club for the extra financial burden of Southern League football.

He said: “We’ve got ambitions to finish in the top two and then we will start trying to work on getting ready for next year and the extra costs.

“We’ve already brought in two more sponsors and will continue to be supported by Premier Coating, who have given us great support over the last two to three years.

“But we do need more help, particularly with the cost of travel which will be the biggest issue if we are promoted and we would be particularly keen to talk to any travel companies.

“We would also appreciate help from local people who have spare time, they can volunteer to help the club in any way.”