'I'd love 40,000 seats,' says Ipswich Town chief

Mark Ashton, Ipswich Town's chairman, said an extension of the West Stand was being considered

Ipswich Town's chairman and chief executive has said he would love to increase the club's stadium capacity to 40,000.

Mark Ashton also revealed the club was considering an extension to the West Stand at Portman Road.

The Blues have already agreed to buy a large parcel of land to potentially expand the Cobbold Stand on the opposite side of the ground.

"The stadium has never been designed with an estate strategy in place," Ashton told The Blue Hour on BBC Radio Suffolk.

• Watch: Video recording of Mark Ashton's interview

"We need to give supporters the best matchday facility and the best matchday hospitality and experience that we possibly can."

Ipswich Borough Council would like to build a hotel and aquatics centre near the Portman Road stadium

Ashton was responding to questions from listeners about the proposed redevelopment of the Cobbold Stand, which dates from the 1970s and is the oldest section of Portman Road.

"It's on the to-do list - it's not the top of the to-do list, I must be honest with you," he said.

"Why? Because I'm certainly not going to take a stand down in the midst of a Premier League season, that's just not the right thing to do."

The Cobbold Stand was built in the 1970s and hosts both home and away fans

If the existing Cobbold Stand is demolished, then 750 season ticket holders and 3,000 away fans would temporarily be without a seat - but the club has a potential solution.

Ashton continued: "There's a train of thought that says 'no', the next development there is the West Stand.

"Which sees an increase in capacity in the West Stand, of surprise, surprise, circa 4,000 people.

"So when you take down the Cobbold Stand people don't lose their season tickets and they could move across."

Portman Road currently has a capacity of about 30,000.

Ashton insisted there was no timescale on extending either stand, partly because rebuilding the club's training ground was top priority.

A planning application for the Playford Road renovation would be submitted to the local council in the next 10 to 14 days, he said.

Town have already made changes to the stadium for this season, having extended the West Stand corridor, created new executive lounges, increased away fan capacity and expanded media facilities.

Most keenly, the club will be eyeing the prospect of escaping the Premier League relegation zone, with a trip to Tottenham on Sunday.

"We've got to keep our eye on the prize and not be cut too thinly here with too many projects," said Ashton.

The chief exec was also critical of VAR, particularly in the wake of controversial refereeing decisions during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Leicester City when Ipswich's Conor Chaplin had a penalty claim turned down and Kalvin Phillips was sent off for a second yellow card.