The proposed £6million project would see Saints sell a long-term lease on one of their car parks to supermarket giants ASDA to fund expansion work.

A subsequent new food store would create up to 400 jobs.

"We saw on Saturday the direction club rugby is heading," said Northampton chairman Keith Barwell.

"The 45,000 crowd at Wembley (for Saracens versus Northampton) followed hot on the heels of the London double-header, which had a crowd in excess of 67,000, and the Premiership grand final, which has sold out two years running.

"Here at the Saints, we have sold out our Heineken Cup match against Munster over a month ahead of schedule, and season ticket sales have increased for two straight years.

"Furthermore, European Rugby Cup are now stipulating that knockout matches have to be played in a stadium with a minimum capacity of 15,000, which is more than the current capacity (of Franklin's Gardens).

"We don't want to be in the situation where we face the prospect of taking big games away from Northampton, which is why we need to develop Franklin's Gardens."