SWINDON TOWN will unveil plans for a new 23,000 all-seater stadium on Monday morning.

The widely expected move is set to be confirmed by chief executive Mark Devlin, borough council leader Mike Bawden and Midlands-based developers St Modwen Properties PLC at a County Ground press conference.

The company was the lead developer in the construction of Stoke City's 28,000 Britannia Stadium.

If all goes to plan, Town could be kicking off life in their new home in time for the 2007-8 campaign.

A property deal has always been key to the club's desire to move from its current site and Monday's conference will be the culmination of many months of behind the scenes negotiations.

Although the details are yet to be announced, it is thought a hotel and further sports facilities will also be included as part of the development.

The favoured site is believed to be the area commonly known as Shaw Tip, at West Swindon, but others in the frame are thought to be the Kingsdown triangle just off the A419 and an area of land by junction 15 of the M4.

But Town officials were remaining tight-lipped last night.

The current board's search for a new site began two years ago after it was decided the only way for the club to developer and prosper was to find a new home.

It is barely a fortnight since Devlin told a fans forum that his personal vision was to see Town thriving at a new home within the next three to four years.

Devlin told fans that night: "Without doubt the board believe that the long term future of the club is probably away from the County Ground and at a purpose-built stadium with modern facilities.

"There is one site that we probably prefer more than the others because it fits with the criteria we're looking for but it also meets the criteria of all the interested parties such as the Highways Agency and the Council."

Supporters groups have long expressed the view that the club would benefit from a new home and just before the start of the current campaign, major shareholder Sir Seton Wills said: "I think football clubs need a modern new stadium to get the all-year-round income streams that are so essential.

"If we were in a new ground, a huge new world of income would be opened up to us."

The club currently lease the County Ground from Swindon Borough Council and there would inevitably be huge interest in a prime town centre site.

However there is a covenant on the land which dictates the land must be used for sporting purposes.