11thnov03

Ashford anger at Margate decision
Tim Thorogood, manager of Dr Martens League Eastern Division club Ashford Town, has criticised Nationwide Conference neighbours Margate for their decision to use Dover Athletic for their home ground rather than accepting Ashford's groundshare offer.

Margate used Town's Homelands ground for the FA cup tie with Grays Athletic, and 'Gate had been expected to strike a deal to switch to Ashford following delays in the redevelopment of their Hartsdown Park home.

However, the Conference club has now reached agreement with Dover to extend the deal for the remainder of the campaign, sparking an angry response from Thorogood.

He said: "I think they used us as leverage against Dover. I'm sure they've played this situation very nicely for themselves.

"We've been let down by Margate. Margate used us to a degree and didn't even have the decency to call this football club to tell us. We found out on the local news."
source: www.nonleaguedaily.com