Heybridge Swifts’ plans for a new stadium could be scrapped in favour of redeveloping their current home.

The club, who reached the first round of the FA Cup for just the fourth time this year, are weighing up their options after plans for a Goldhanger Road ground collapsed.

Club chairman Gary White said staying at Scraley Road was a possibility thanks to the money brought in through the club’s cup exploits.

He said: “We had a brief meeting with Maldon District Council a couple of weeks ago to run through some ideas we had. This season’s fantastic cup run has made us realise what we have here and how good the set-up is.

“We have seven acres of unencumbered land down here.

“There has to be some potential there, so we enquired as to whether we could redevelop. We don’t know if is possible or not at the moment.”

The club had planned to sell Scraley Road to developer Bloor Homes and build a new ground at Goldhanger Road.

The proposals would have seen 104 homes built on the Swifts’ current home.

Councillors voted against the plans after being lobbied by campaign group Goldhanger Road Group which was set up to oppose it.

One of the main concerns was the impact on wildlife in particular around Chigborough Lakes.

Mr White revealed he was keen to avoid a similar situation with these latest plans.

He added: “We don’t want the club to be caught in limbo for eight or ten years like it was last time.

“There are no alternative sites at the moment.

“We are in a good situation financially thanks to the cup exploits and that stands us in good stead moving forward, whatever the stadium decision.”