Dover Athletic use the furlough scheme to safeguard the club's long-term future

DOVER ATHLETIC have confirmed that all management, players and staff have now been furloughed to safeguard the club’s long-term future.

Chairman Jim Parmenter, who has funded the club for the past seven weeks after the initial government grant funding ended in December, said he had been left with no option but to make the decision to prevent the club from becoming insolvent.

In a statement, Parmenter said: “We are operating in unprecedented times. We have to make difficult decisions.

“We wanted to leave the decision that has been made as long as possible before making this final announcement in the hope a support package may appear.

“Unfortunately, no support has been forthcoming, so it is with the deepest regret that the club must now furlough all staff and players and reduce operations to a bare minimum.

“All financial reserves have now been completely exhausted.

“For 15 years, I have run the club without debt and I do not intend to change that now.

“The club will be unable to fulfill further National League fixtures until appropriate funding is made available.”

As a result of this decision, three loan players, Harry Ransom (Millwall), Ryan Hanson (Hull City), and Oliver Webber (Crystal Palace) have all returned to their parent clubs.

Andy Hessenthaler’s side are currently second-from-bottom in the Vanarama National League table with 10 points from their 15 league games.

National League South clubs Maidstone United and Tonbridge Angels have both announced that they are also using the furlough scheme.

Visit Dover Athletic’s website: www.doverathletic.com