A football team are at the centre of an extraordinary row which has seen the manager sacked, a game cancelled and furious players defending their own reputations.

The drama began when Canterbury City manager Ben Smith gave a seemingly innocuous interview to the Kentish Gazette, one of KentOnline's sister newspapers.

Discussing an upcoming match against Cray Valley - who were pushing for promotion from the Southern Counties East division - Smith said he had to consider whether he would like to see his wealthy opponents promoted ahead of less well-off rivals.

He said to the Gazette: "Will it be a tougher league next year with Cray Valley at the top with the money they want to spend?'

"There is that element of whether we want Cray Valley or (fellow promotion hopefuls) Corinthian going up."

Canterbury went on to lose last weekend's game 2-0, with Cray Valley securing promotion.

Smith was then sacked by chairman Tim Clark, who said the manager's comments to the Gazette could have been interpreted as implying his players would not be going all out for victory.

The club also cancelled a game they were due to play tonight against Bearsted amid the unfolding chaos.

Mr Clark added: "There was always likely to be some sensitivity about a game as big as this and unfortunately some of Ben comments could be open to different interpretations.

"One interpretation was to what extent we were going to be competitive and the last thing we wanted was to be seen to being bringing the league into disrepute.

"There was sufficient concern from the league to contact us and in the end we felt we needed to be seen to take decisive action."

But if Mr Clark thought that would draw a line under the matter he was to be mistaken.

First the manager he disposed of spoke out about his dismissal, saying he felt let down by the club.

Smith said: "I'm extremely disappointed, I think disappointed is a complete understatement really.

"I feel let down, I feel like the opportunity to take the side and squad I've been building over the last year forward has been taken away from me over something that is so trivial.

"I've had people mentioning that the club's integrity has been called into question, the fact we put out the side we did (on Saturday) and with the performance levels and effort levels of the players on the day, nobody can question our integrity. To be honest, nobody can question my integrity.

"If anybody has been to a Canterbury City game, they'll see the passion I have to win games of football and the passion I've always had to win for Canterbury City and the supporters there."

And this afternoon the entire playing squad put out a statement calling for Smith to be reinstated.

The statement said the players felt the drama had led to questions over their integrity.

It added: "We were shocked to hear of the sacking of our manager on Sunday morning, especially after the success of the club in the FA Vase this year, as well as the huge steps taken off the field to improve the status of our club, owed largely to the work Ben Smith has done.

"The rumours surrounding the sacking posed lots of questions being asked by us as players. An email was sent to the chairman of our club on behalf of all the playing squad asking for the reasons for his sacking.

"We also asked the club to reconsider the sacking as Ben has the full backing of every member of the squad, coaching staff and our supporters.

"We have not received one phone call, text message or email from the chairman or the vice chairman, in regards to the current state of the club, the plans to fulfil our remaining fixture or even to meet with the current playing to squad to discuss how we move forward..." Canterbury City players' statement

"We also reiterated that every one of us as players and coaches were fully committed to gaining a positive result against Cray Valley and giving a positive account of ourselves.

"We were unlucky not to gain a result on the day. Had we fielded a weakened team and got beat easily we could have fully understood the club questioning Ben, and us as a squad.

"Although the last couple of days have been absolute chaos, we as a team and as semi professional footballers owed it to the SCEFL, Bearsted FC, Ben Smith and the coaching staff, and all of our supporters to fulfil the last game of the season and give a good account of ourselves amidst this absolute mess.

"We had made our own arrangements and were in the middle of discussing who would pick up the kit and balls for tonight’s game when we received the news (via CCFC official Twitter) that tonight’s game had been cancelled.

"We have not received one phone call, text message or email from the chairman or the vice chairman, in regards to the current state of the club, the plans to fulfil our remaining fixture or even to meet with the current playing to squad to discuss how we move forward.

"Just to reiterate, we were all fully committed to fulfilling tonight’s fixture against Bearsted and feel the club cancelling this fixture has now bought our reputation in to dispute as players.

"We are so united as a group of players and staff and feel we still could be successful as a group for Canterbury City FC but the only way to move forward would be for Ben and his team to be reinstated as manager of this football club."

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