Canterbury City FC are once again facing an arduous search for a new ground after plans to move back within the district and to a new stadium dramatically fell through at the eleventh hour.

Despite the team sitting within reach of a play-off position in Division One of the Southern Counties East Football League, club bosses say finding themselves unexpectedly homeless will almost certainly mean relegation in a matter of weeks.

A statement issued this afternoon says: “It is with deep regret that we must inform our supporters, players, and the wider football community that, as it stands, we do not have a ground secured for next season.”

It adds: “We are devastated by this situation, but we want to assure our supporters that we are doing everything possible to find a way forward.”

The club last had a ground in the city centre in the late 1990s, but was asked to depart Kingsmead Stadium when the council wanted the land for redevelopment, which forced the club to fold before reforming in 2007.

In a saga that has lasted more than 20 years, Canterbury City have since embarked on numerous ground-share arrangements with other east Kent clubs including in Sittingbourne, Ashford and Deal and most recently with ‘friends’ at Hartsdown Park in Margate where they have played the last two seasons.

But amid dwindling support and a struggle for sponsorship - as a result of playing more than 15 miles away - the board felt a return to Canterbury more necessary than ever.

Confident of finalising a ground-share arrangement for next season at Whitstable Town, who lease their Belmont Road stadium from Canterbury City Council, the club began preparing to play their final games at Margate.

However, weeks before the deal was cemented - and while Whitstable awaited agreement from its council landlord that it could indeed sub-let - Canterbury City became aware another club, Faversham Strike Force, were also interested in the same opportunity.

And this week the club was given the devastating news they have lost their bid and won’t get the ground-share contract for next season.

The statement issued this afternoon continues: “Despite our best efforts, all our enquiries regarding a potential ground share have been unsuccessful.

“Most disappointingly, after reaching an agreement with a local club, they subsequently decided to enter into a deal with a club from outside the district, leaving us without a viable option.”

Director Adrian Gower told KentOnline: “We have been basically gazumped.”

Club chairman Trevor James added: “It’s business, I don’t have an argument with it - but that doesn’t help our club.”

There are other problems too attached to such an outcome at this point in the year.

By the end of March, clubs must have confirmed with the football league where they will be playing home games next season.

With no pitch to currently call their own, and despite flying high in Division One, the club face being handed relegation by the FA - thus shattering any hope of joining the play-offs should they qualify.

This also means leaving the bottom rung of semi-professional football and dropping to a lower league.

“That’s going to be a bitter pill to swallow,” added Mr James.

The board say remaining in Margate isn’t an option and Canterbury City need to stop ‘drifting’ around Kent.

In order to secure their future - which rests on generating a more sustainable and reliable income long term - the club need to encourage more sponsors, grow their supporter base and ultimately the number of playing sides, which could involve reinventing their youth set-up, introducing a women’s side or a disability team.

Mr James is adamant none of that can successfully be done away from home in someone else’s district and so he believes the club - despite the latest setback - must now focus on finding a site within Canterbury or its surrounding areas.

He explained: “Not getting the footfall, and the turnstile money, nor the sponsorship - we knew we had to move.

“Margate have been great friends but after two years the spectator levels have plateaued.”

In late 2023 the club had embarked on conversations with the University of Kent over renting land near to its Sports Pavilion.

But after various proposals - that included an offer by the club to install floodlights and a stand for spectators that would also satisfy the requirements of its current league - the board was told no option was ultimately going to be possible.

Alternatives have also been explored at Herne Bay’s ground and at numerous local schools - but so far nothing has proved possible, suitable or reached the stages of a final agreement - and so the search for a new home must continue at pace.

The club has also sought help from Canterbury City Council which, while not involved in the final decision at Whitstable Town, might have other suitable sites should the club be forced into accepting relegation to a league where facility requirements are less stringent.

Mr James says he won’t give up.

“I can’t afford for the club to die on the 31st of March just because we haven’t got anywhere,” he added.