Aberdeen Football Club chairman Stewart Milne hopes to have a new stadium built in time for the 2020 season.

In an open letter to AFC supporters he states the Dons will aim to have the football academy built in time for the 2018 season and the stadium at Kingsford developed two years later.

Labelled as “one of the most exciting projects in our club’s history” he has thanked people who attended the public consultations and gave their views on the plans for the outskirts of Westhill.

Stewart Milne said: “The first part of the consultation process concluded on 26th of August. The next step will be to come back to our fans and the wider community with the detail of our plans.

“Following this, we expect to be in a position to have a detailed planning application submitted before the end of 2016.

“It will take the planners, statutory consultees and other stakeholders some further time to assess and consider the various aspects of the proposed development.

“If our application is approved, we would aim to have the football academy in place for the 2018 season, and the stadium built for the 2020 season.”