CHARLTON Athletic has confirmed plans to increase the capacity of its ground to 40,000.

The club has asked planning bosses for permission to extend the South Stand at The Valley, Floyd Road, Charlton.

This would allow 10,000 extra fans to come through the turnstiles each week, making it one of the bigger football stadia in the country.

Charlton has already secured permission from Greenwich Council to increase capacity to 30,000, by extending the East Stand.

The club has now put in an outline application to revamp the South Stand to create an all-seat 40,000-capacity ground.

Chairman of the Greenwich and Bexley branch of the Charlton Athletic Supporters' Club Steve Bailey thinks this is a good move.

He said: "If we are going to progress as a club we need the extra capacity.

"It is vital if we are to compete in the Premiership. The money means we can attract new players to the club."

Mr Bailey also believes the extension will bring new fans to the club, which finished 13th in the Premiership last season.

He added: "With such a big catchment area the floating supporters must be attracted, particularly with Millwall in decline."

Residents living close to The Valley who campaigned against the original extension are unhappy with the latest plan.

Campaign group the Charlton Athletic Residents' Liaison Committee says it is worried about "huge numbers" of fans flooding into the area on match days.

Group chairman Mark Adams said: "It is difficult to see how residents can be spared years of disruption if these plans proceed."

Charlton chief executive Peter Varney says extending The Valley is "vital to the ongoing development of the club".

He added: "By raising the height and filling in the gaps we can keep more noise inside the stadium which is good news for the team and residents."