by Kevin Redsull

Chairman Tim Clark has categorically denied that Canterbury City have been poaching players and coaches from youth football clubs in the area.

Mr Clark was responding to comments from Les Barleycorn, chairman of the Molten East Kent Youth League, over the reasons why City’s application to enter eight teams in the EKYL next season had been voted out by clubs at the league’s annual meeting two weeks ago.

Mr Barleycorn said: "Prior to the annual meeting we received a number of letters from clubs in our league complaining that they were losing players to Canterbury City who they (the league’s clubs) had coached and brought through the ranks right from their under-eight sides, and they were also losing managers (to City) who they had sent on coaching courses."

But Mr Clark said: "We categorically deny any suggestion of poaching, either of players or coaches, from other clubs. Every single parent whose child wishes to sign for Canterbury City will confirm that they have come to our open trials and liked what they have seen.

"It’s the quality of what we are providing which is attracting people to us, and if we are raising the standard of youth football provision locally, then I would have thought that is something that should be embraced, not feared."