Stdium Deadlin Details

[hartgeman]

Margate FC are preparing for today's deadline for submission of plans for the Hartsdown Park stadium project.

The club have until this afternoon to hand in a business plan, project plan and a detailed planning application for the development to Thanet Council.

The club must prove that the money is in place to fund the scheme and that the commerial development - including a hotel and theme bar - will be profitable. Gate intend to be in their new home at the start of next season, and are targeting a February start date.

Once planning application for the commercial development is handedin, a consultation period of about 10 weeks is expected befor the plans can go before the council's planning committee.

Manager Cris Kinnear said:"It's paramount that we get the new stadium. I've got some ideas on what we're going to do with it. We've not even been able to run a reserve side, and we've had no youth set-up.

"We've got to think of the young people, and we want to get the best players in a area to come and play for us - and maybe bring them through to the first team.

"It's something that has been discussed, but will thake some time. We've been homeless for two-and-a-half years-and this has been the hardest season, without a doubt."