From kentonline....

[Coffin Ender]

MARGATE have confirmed that the transfer embargo imposed on the club last season has finally been lifted, giving manager Chris Kinnear the go-ahead to start planning for the club’s first ever season in the Ryman League.

Kinnear was given his playing budget at a meeting last Friday, and director Keith Piper said: "We are obviously relieved, it happened slightly earlier than we had planned for, after funds had been released to settle the footballing debts.

"It’s part of the recovery programme allowing Chris to start planning for the new season. We have squeezed every penny we can into the playing side of the club to ensure Margate does not run into the same problems into the same problems it has had over the past 18 months, and all players will be paid on time and when it is due.

"We hope to go into the season clear of all the issues and obstacles that have dogged us in the past. Everything is looking extremely positive."

The club’s application for commercial development at Hartsdown Park, first submitted last September goes before the Thanet Council planners on Wednesday, July 20, and the full council 24 hours later.

Margate are holding the latest in a series of open question and answer sessions with supporters at Hartsdown on Wednesday night, starting at 7.30pm.

Kinnear will be present, along with Mr Piper, chairman Colin Page and company secretary Vicky Roby. The club will be announcing the identity of the club’s new main sponsor who has agreed a three year deal.

Meanwhile the club’s fans are setting their sights high as the excitement about the imminent return to Hartsdown Park gathers momentum.

Last week’s annual meeting of the Margate Independent Supporters Association heard it had donated almost £8,500 to the struggling club last year, but vice chairman Tom McKenna believes they can raise up to £250,000 in the next twelve months.

The revamped Social Club at the ground is the centre of their fund raising initiative and Mr McKenna is bullish about what MISA can achieve now that Margate are close to ending their enforced three-year exile away from the town.

A supporter for more than 50 years ,he said: "We have waited a long time to come home, and after three years away are making sure things are done right."

He also praised the work done by former chairman Keith Piper, recently re-appointed as a director.

Mr McKenna said: "Keith and the people at the club are down to earth and talk our language. We owe a great deal to him all his diligence and hard work that has brought us where we are today."

Bernie Overton continues as chairman after being re-elected along with Mr McKenna last week. Keith Lewis continues as treasurer. Secretary John Cooper stood down due to work commitments, but will remain on the committee.

[TonyM]

That HAS to be the best news yet,now we can really look to the future.UP THE GATE.

[Margate Martian]

Great news!!! Looking forward to next season already!!!!

 

Come on the gate!!!

[MargateFan]

Everything feels now like it's coming together, with the end result of us being at home next season with the prospect of CK being able to build up the squad. This will be a long summer, normally I do not want to hurry through the summer months but this year ...

Sometimes in those dark days last winter this seemed to be a dream too far, but now we are closer than ever to reality. What a feeling!

[Guest]

are you talking about Football

[TonyM]

Yes we are talking about football,we can see for the first time that our club WILL be back home,we will be back at HDP this season with a new ground and news of the embargo lifted now CK can do his job the way he wants to,just got so many good feelings about all this,its nice to here good things happening at MFC again. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/top.gif" alt="" />

[michael]

Brilliant and thanks.

 

Would'nt it be great if we could just have a normal pre-season and have a squad lined up by early July unlike the last two seasons and get some proper teamwork sorted before the league starts.

 

Hopefuly the defence can be 'drilled into a unit' unlike last season.

 

Maybe MFC could also keep us informed of player comings(hopefully no goings)-again unlike other pre-seasons where imo it is kept too close to the chest-apart from last season when there was no team until 11th hour and CK did wonders to get any semblance of a team together.

 

Knowing the squad early does generate interest and stop the bitching and griping about non footballing matters when everyone is plain bored !!

 

 

 

Just the small matter of the CVA and other 75% of creditors to appease now, and then MFC really will be 'cooking on gas' !!

[TonyM]

Well said MM 100%.

[Guest]

Are the club going to have a reserve side and youth teams,next season ?

I really hope so, the whole infrastructure of the club needs rebuilding.

[margateshot]

The answer to rayw is yes. At the meeting last week it was said that the club are in negotiations about the formation of the youth set up. I do not think there will be a reserve team next season however.

[Guest]

lol "small matter". Gotta have a sense of humour about it I guess.