Canterbury City FC has confirmed it will move back to its home area after decades away - but it will come at a high price with the promotion-chasing club being forced to resign from the league.

After much uncertainty, bosses at the club announced this weekend they had secured a move to the outskirts of the city at the Neighbourhood Resource Centre in Thanington.

However, the move has been branded “bitter-sweet” by chairman Trevor James – with the Southern Counties East Football League (SCEFL) Division One play-off chasing team set to be relegated to the Kent County League as a consequence.

It has sought voluntary demotion as the facilities are no longer suitable to play at the higher level, with a ground share at Margate coming to an end and a lack of willing hosts elsewhere in the county.

It comes after the club learned a hoped-for ground share with Whitstable Town had fallen through.

Other attempts to piggy-back on a nearby team’s venue or strike local partnerships also failed to materalise.

“The club could not convince the University of Kent at Canterbury to form a partnership and develop the facilities - at our cost - for the benefit of students, the community and CCFC in an exciting future,” said Mr James.

“Nor could we gain ground shares at the nearby football clubs at Herne Bay (over-subscribed), Faversham (wanting an exorbitant fee) and Whitstable (unfortunately outbid by Faversham Strike Force, at the last minute).

“It will be a ‘bitter-sweet’ return of the club to Canterbury, as we will have gained our heartland but at the cost of our status.

“We also anticipate that the step down in league status will inevitably mean a significant change in playing and coaching personnel.

“Therefore, being competitive in the Kent County League will initially be a challenge and it might be a longer road back to achieve our former status.”

The club will complete its league fixtures, at Margate, this season, but will not be eligible to gain promotion should they secure it.

Canterbury City Council (CCC) has agreed to carry out improvements to the changing rooms at the new ground before the start of next season, which will be in August.

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 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 away from the city - the board felt a return to Canterbury more necessary than ever.

There is still hope of seeing a new ground built by Quinn Estates as part of the Merton Park housing development.

“In my short involvement with the club, it is clear that we cannot continue drifting around Kent. It is not financially sustainable,” said Mr James.

“Our current location at Margate sadly shows that we have little spectator appetite to support a Canterbury City team that plays home games 20 miles away - despite the fact that for three months we have been a successful team and top of the division.

“Equally, it has been hard to gain sponsorship from Canterbury businesses when their market is more local - and I am grateful to the few philanthropic companies who have helped us and have bucked that trend.

“We now hope this change will spearhead the regeneration of the club’s fortunes and develop a community spirit once more, with local players and supporters.

“We hope to link with other teams in the community, because we recognise that local kids need to aspire to something and the return of the semi-professional club to the city helps to offer that chance to them.”

Whitstable Town issued a statement this week to “clarify our position regarding the recent discussions and decisions” about the ground share proposals.

It said: “We have maintained open and transparent communication with Canterbury City throughout this process.

“They were fully aware that two other clubs had approached us for a potential ground share and that we were seeking permission from our landlords, Canterbury City Council, who were conducting their due diligence before any decision could be made.

“We kept Canterbury City FC informed and updated on all discussions and developments. They were aware for several weeks that, once the due diligence process was completed, we would convene a meeting of the club’s board to deliberate on the best options for Whitstable Town.

“After careful consideration, we concluded that Faversham Strike Force was the ideal partner for our future plans and aspirations. Contrary to some online suggestions, financial considerations did not drive our decision, nor is the financial agreement aligned with the exaggerated figures mentioned.

“At no point was any agreement made with any party. What occurred before Thursday, March 27, were ongoing discussions about what a potential agreement might look like.”