MARGATE chairman Jim Parmenter has allayed fears that he might walk away from the club after the Nationwide Conference threatened to fine them £5,000 for every game they have to rearrange in the New Year.

The decision by the Conference, announced at the weekend, left Parmenter shellshocked. But in a statement he said would continue the fight to return the club to Hartsdown Park.

Mr Parmenter, who has been heavily subsidising the Gate, said: “Following recent speculation regarding the future of Margate Football Club and my role as chairman, I wish to clarify the current position. After consultation with club directors and my family, I have decided to remain as chairman.

“Despite my dismay over the level of fine being imposed by the Nationwide Conference due to our ground difficulties I have been urged by those close to me to remain in post and see things through.

“The club will appeal to the FA over the level of the fine and accept whatever decision they make. We will then have to find ways of managing the financial implications.

“Therefore myself and the other directors who have been financially supporting the club will continue to do so. We undertake to continue to do everything in our power to support Chris Kinnear and the team on the pitch.

“Keith Piper will continue on behalf of the club to move the plans for the stadium development towards a successful conclusion. providing a new stadium by May 2004.

“The business plan is now with Thanet District Council and provided they are able to give approval in the time scale required, and as a result the final go-ahead is given by the bank, the stadium will move forward and be ready for the May deadline.”

The Conference decided to impose the fine after the Gate were forced to extend their groundshare arrangement with Dover. Under league rules clubs are only entitled to one extension, but this is Margate’s third.

Conference chief executive John Moules claimed that the Conference were left with no option.

He explained: “Margate have been told they are in contravention of a Conference regulation on ground sharing. For each fixture they have to move after December 31 they are going to be fined.

“This was the lesser of the options open to the Conference board. The first option was to deduct points for each fixture they move and the other alternative was expulsion from the league.”