Chairman Maurice Dunk wants Ryan Maxwell to lead Sittingbourne into a new stadium.

The Brickies could be on the move in just a couple of years’ time with the club set to benefit as part of a major housing development.

Manager Maxwell’s stock continues to rise after guiding Sittingbourne into the FA Trophy quarter-finals with victory at National League big boys Southend on Saturday.

He recently signed a two-and-a-half-year contract extension, taking him through to the end of the 2026/27 campaign.

And if all goes according to plan, he’ll be in charge when the Brickies open a new ground.

Maxwell has transformed them from Isthmian South East relegation battlers to title contenders in two years and wants to take them through the leagues.

“He’s just fantastic,” said chairman Dunk.

“He’s so alive and he inspires people.

“It’s one big love affair here at the moment and it has been since he came in.

“We’ve got him tied down for another two years after this.

“We could have a new ground in two years and he could be part of that.

“I know he’s got ambitions to be in the National League and I’m hoping that’s with us.

“It means we need to look at our new stadium and make sure it’s fit for purpose.

“We’re on to something here, we really are, and we’ve just got to keep going.”

Sittingbourne have come a long way since Dunk took over as chairman and offered them a home at Woodstock in 2013.

It’s no exaggeration to say there might not be a club today had that not happened.

All the hard work and effort is coming to fruition with the club’s history-making Trophy run and league title push.

“They had nothing, no money,” said Dunk.

“We started off with crowds of 120 and every year it’s gone up just a little bit.

“Two seasons ago, Maxy turned up, saved us from relegation, got us into the play-offs last year and he’s said he’s going to get us up this year.

“I’m not going to doubt that at all because we will go up some way. If we don’t go up as winners, we’ll go up in the play-offs.

“We’re all together, directors, committee, team, players, supporters.

“The supporters are amazing and they have been for 30-odd years because they’ve seen us through all the hard times.”

View Ian Scammell’s full Southend v Sittingbourne gallery, where pictures are also available for purchase, by clicking here

Dunk watched from the directors’ box as Sittingbourne stunned Southend in the FA Trophy.

They kept their National League opponents at bay before Anthony Church pounced for the only goal in the sixth minute of added time.

“You couldn’t have written a better script, could you?” said Dunk.

“We’re really good at defending.

“We defend from front to back, we’ve done that all season.

“We’ve scored so many as well but we knew this was all about defending well, being disciplined and nicking a goal.

“There was no way they could come back from that.

“It means everything to us and to the town.

“I felt we would put up a good show and I thought if Southend didn’t turn up in certain areas, we’d punish them.”

An injury-time penalty denied Sittingbourne victory on their return to league action last night.

Ayman El-Mogharbel gave the Brickies an 88th-minute lead at Erith Town but the hosts rescued a point with James Miles’ spot-kick.

The draw leaves them four points behind leaders Ramsgate.