MAKING improvements to Craven Park is now Hull KR's number one off-field priority, according to new chief executive Mike Smith.

Having been installed to run the club on a day-to-day basis by chairman Neil Hudgell, Smith is keen to deliver a stadium to be proud of within the next two to three years.

According to Smith, plans to complete the East Stand extension will be finalised soon and are just subject to boardroom approval.

But the 48-year-old also believes building a new North Stand is again a realistic possibility.

"Ground developments will take a precedent over other off-the-fields issues," Smith told the Mail.

"The board are having a meeting in the next few weeks to find out exactly where we are with the East Stand.

"Initially, there were things that we overlooked and didn't tick off but that has all been sorted out now.

"The North Stand idea has also increased speed and it is now a viability.

"I'd like to think within two years we would have both the East Stand and North Stand completed."

Rovers originally unveiled plans for a new £6m North Stand back in April 2008, which would provide additional seating for 2,605 people and 10 corporate hospitality boxes.

But the credit crunch and onset of the recession means those plans have yet to come to fruition.

This had led a group of fans to collect a 10,000-name petition calling for Hull City Council to help fund Craven Park improvements.

But Smith himself has been working hard to secure funding for the project and hopes it can still become a reality.

He explained: "There are so many people working behind the scenes with the RFL and the governing bodies making sure everything is in place.

"The East Stand capacity will be increased by 1,200 and take the east stand capacity to 5,970 and overall capacity to 11,330."

As a Robins fan who used to cheer on the side from the terraces of Craven Park on Holderness Road, Smith has landed his ideal job.

His appointment brings a new degree of stability to Rovers, which hasn't been present since Paul Lakin left to become commercial director at Premier League side Wolves.

Four chief executives later, including Hudgell on a short-term basis, and Smith hopes he can emulate Lakin's impact as the Robins entered into Super League.

"The involvement in that must have been unbelievable," added Smith.

"I'm lucky that a lot of our procedures are already in place I spoke to Paul a couple of weeks ago and he is always there for me if I need a chat, as are a lot of chief executives in the league.

"I will be here as long as the board think I can do the job."