THE Leyton skyline is changing rapidly as Leyton Orient's new stands start to take shape.

Part of the frame for the new 2,500 seater west stand has just been erected and gives fans a taste of what the £9 million refurbishment of Brisbane Road will look like.

Supporters club chairman David Dodd said he was heartened by the progress as fans were limited to using the two remaining stands while the work continued.

"Some of the supporters can't get the seats they usually have but now, seeing the massive new stadium take shape, they are quite happy to go through it. It helps that the team are playing a lot better. It is something we have waited a long, long time for and the project the club has come up with is really unique and will set up the club up for the future."

Most of the money, £7m, to redevelop the ground came from developers which have been given the rights to build flats at each of the four corners.

A further £1m came from a grant from the Football Foundation with club chairman and sports promoter Barry Hearn making up the £500,000 shortfall.

The O's secured a FA Cup second round tie at Oldham Athletic and, with the Premiership big guns entering in the third round, the club could lose out as the stadium gate is restricted to just 5,000.

But Mr Hearn said the club had to build for the future.

He said: "We are playing decent football and we can't get any more in and we'll probably draw Manchester United in the next round of the Cup.

"But everyone is making the most of it. The team is playing some decent football and hopefully we will be playing in a higher division next year."

Work began at the end of last season for two new all seater stands on the north and west sides of the club's ground at Brisbane Road and the club said it was still on track for completion for the start of next season.

As well as seating, the west stand will incorporate new club headquarters, ticketing office, large shop, supporters club, players changing rooms and corporate hospitality areas.

The new north stand will be similar to the existing south stand and seat 1,500.

Not included in this phase of building are plans for a new east stand with a capacity of 4,000, which will only begin when separate funding is secured.

When the work is completed, the club hopes to have a modern 10,500 capacity stadium.