Bosses behind plans to move Tankerton Football Club to a new ground in Swalecliffe have had their plans scuppered – after endangered great crested newts were found on the site.

Club officials want to move to land near the St Augustine’s Business Park, in Estuary Close, but now need to find somewhere for the amphibians to live.

Chairman Tim Elgar, 53, is calling on landowners in the area who can help the club rehome the newts to come forward.

The HR consultant said: “There have been more frustrations regarding the newts.

“We have been advised that the area we were looking to move them to is not available from the council.

“We are now having to look at farms or other land owners who will let us relocate the newts.”

Mr Elgar says the club is home to 30 teams and more than 400 players. They are currently based at the Seaview Holiday Park in St John’s Road.

Mr Elgar, who lives in Tankerton, said: “If there are any landowners out there that might have suitable space for wildlife, we can work with them to house those creatures. That would be great.

"If there are any landowners out there that might have suitable space for wildlife, we can work with them to house those creatures. That would be great..." - Tim Elgar

“The majority of our players are between 16 and 18 and we have got no security of tender at Seaview, and simply we need somewhere we can manage.

“The reason being that Seaview is out of action from September through to March – we can’t invest money in it because it’s not ours.”

Canterbury City Council spokesman Rob Davies said: “The planning application is still live and the football club is now trying to resolve the ecology issues on the site.

“We have made it clear to them since day one that this site was likely to be of high ecological value.

“Surveys have been carried out which have found great crested newts and protected reptiles, so now the club needs to find a way of mitigating the impact of the pitches on the local wildlife.

“We have been working with the club to try and find a solution and are awaiting a reply to an email we sent on September 22.”