Ashford Town owner Tony Betteridge has conceded defeat in his attempts to get the team playing football this season.

Mr Betteridge (pictured) was placed in sole charge of the club at the end of last week but his hopes of finding a way of getting Ashford into the Kent League next season have fallen flat.

In a statement on the Ashford website on Monday night, he said: "I am very sorry to report that it is not possible for the new club to be in a position to play football in this season that is upon us.

"Quite simply there is far too much to do and far too little time, although no consolation, I guarantee that the club will be playing football next season and hopefully in the Kent League."

Mr Betteridge was still waiting for official documentation entitling him to take possession of Homelands.

Defending his decision, he added the following facts;

(1) From February 2009 until the end of that season, to prevent the club from being suspended by the F.A and inevitable bankruptcy, I paid the players wages & bonuses in their entirety contrary to claims recorded in the press and in the match programmes.

(2) On 23 July 2010 my solicitors wrote to Don Crosbie’s solicitors suggesting the club’s financial problems be dealt with via a C.V.A (creditors voluntary arrangement) . This would have allowed the club to continue, albeit Don had resigned the club from the Ryman League for no reason that benefited the club, but this proposal was emphatically rejected resulting in the demise of the club.

Neither (1) nor (2) were in my best interests in regard to my position with Don.

He continued: "I sincerely apologise to you all for not being able to stage the football we all want to see but I truly believe that the long term future of our new club must not be jeopardised for a quick fix."

Manager Steve Lovell was informed of the news on Monday night.

Providing Mr Betteridge can get the legal documents through in time he hopes to have Maidstone United playing at Homelands.

"I’m hoping to persuade Maidstone to come back to Ashford," he said.

"There are lots of uncertainties and Maidstone might be pushed to the point where they can’t do it."

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