SAINTS are days away from being handed the keys to their stunning £25million new stadium.

Up to 170 construction workers have been operating around the clock to ensure the 18,000 capacity arena at Peasley Cross can be handed over to the rugby league club’s chairman Eamonn McManus next week.

Work will then shift to the £2million fit-out of the stadium’s interior, where kitchens, sports bars, kiosks, shop and conferencing facilities will all be created.

That will pave the way for Saints staff to move into their new HQ in December, with conferencing and corporate facilities opening in January.

A series of events is expected to be announced in the coming weeks, including an open training session at the stadium and a pre-season friendly, to help the club secure health and safety certificates.

McManus, who this week revealed a financial package to complete the purchase of the stadium had been finalised (See Star Sport), also announced that local company Paragon Construction has been appointed to do the fit out.

McManus, who is mindful of the club’s “civic duties”, has asked Paragon to use local sub contractors, where possible, to help boost the local economy.

He believes that once complete, Saints will have the finest “purpose built rugby stadium in the country”.

John Downes (MD of developer Langtree), Council leader Marie Rimmer and McManus - all key players in a decade-long quest to bring a new stadium to the town – toured the sports venue on Monday.

With the pitch, goalposts and floodlights in position, they said it “looks like you could play their tomorrow”.

McManus said: “It has surpassed my expectations. It is a stadium the town can be proud of and will lift everyone’s spirits and self esteem.”