Portsmouth announce plans for new 36,000-seat stadium

LONDON, Apr 25 (Reuters) English Premier League club Portsmouth announced plans for a new 36,000-seat stadium today, to be ready by 2011.

The south coast team have played at Fratton Park since their first match in 1899 but its capacity is now only just over 20,000.

The new stadium, jointly-funded by the club and Sellar Property Group, will be built on reclaimed land in the city's dockyards while the Fratton Park site will be developed for housing.

Club chief executive Peter Storrie said: ''This will be the most spectacular stadium set against the backdrop of the harbour.'' Manager Harry Redknapp, who led Portsmouth into the top flight after a 44-year absence in 2003, said: ''It is a unique stadium and the future for this club looks very bright and in great shape.'' REUTERS BJR VV1824