The immediate future of Canterbury City has been safeguarded and the club have avoided demotion next season after agreeing a groundshare at Ashford United for the next three campaigns.

City chairman Tim Clark hopes the stint at Homelands will be the club’s last before returning home, with officials hopeful of developments on a new ground in the city in the coming months.

With a two-year groundshare at Herne Bay ending this summer, City had appealed to their league rivals for help finding a ground fit to host Southern Counties East football next season, having faced a two-tier demotion to the haart of Kent County League had they not found a suitable ground.

Mr Clark revealed exclusively to the Gazette: “After our appeal to all SCEFL clubs to help us, Ashford came forward and following a constructive meeting last Thursday, terms were agreed.”

The agreement is for two years, with an option for a third but allows City to opt out at the end of each season should they be able to return to the city.

Mr Clark said: “We are grateful to Ashford for helping us out and to the league for their help in getting it done.”

He added: “Hopefully, this is the last move Canterbury City have to make before our final move back to our own stadium in Canterbury. While, we are at Ashford for up to three years, we have the option to leave sooner if our stadium is ready.”