DARTFORD Football Club is set to return to its home with a new £2 million stadium planned in the town.

It is believed Dartford Council plans to fork out for a new football ground to bring the nomadic club back to its roots after 11 years of ground sharing.

Council leader Councillor Kenneth Leadbeater is expected to unveil the plans when he visits the club next Saturday.

And an insider says the plans could involve the council paying for a new stadium, instead of burdening The Darts with raising the cash.

An insider said: "It's absolutely clear the plan is to build a stadium in Dartford for Dartford Football Club to use and, if the plan goes ahead, Dartford Football Club will return to the town."

The stadium could cost £2 million and it is understood cabinet members are prepared to put their cash on the line to secure the club's future in the town.

Rumours of The Darts' return have regularly emerged ever since the club left its Watling Street ground in 1993 and was forced to strike ground-share deals with Erith and Belvedere, Purfleet, and, for the past three seasons, Gravesend and Northfleet.

But councillors Jeremy Kite and Simon Bull were spotted visiting the club a few weeks ago, where it is understood they spoke with directors, sparking new rumours.

And speculation is now rife following the announcement Cllr Leadbeater will be visiting the club again on Saturday.

A club source said: "I know something's in the air but I don't know what it is."

And club director Bill Archer would only say: "We've had numerous meetings with the council about returning to the borough and I can confirm members of the council are coming to the match on Saturday to have a chat with us."

Cllr Leadbeater says the visit is part of a drive to drop in on all the sporting clubs and facilities he can in Dartford.

Deputy leader Councillor Jeremy Kite said: "Several members of the council are visiting the club on Saturday to watch the game but I have nothing to add to the speculation concerning a new stadium."