THE battle to bring senior football back to a Kent city reaches a pivotal stage this week with an open meeting.

The meeting will give Canterbury City club officials the chance to outline the progress which has been made in the last 18 months as well as revealing their plans for the future.

City chairman Phil Knight says he has been pleased with the goodwill shown towards the club to date, but knows that the meeting will provide the first acid test.

He said: "We really need people to turn out in numbers on Friday to demonstrate the strength of feeling."

Mr Knight says one of the most exciting aspects of the project is the fact that the club is being set up as a Community Interest Company, or CIC, which means it is will be at the very heart of the community.

He added: "The aim is to provide Canterbury with a club that the city deserves and make it into a real asset for the community."

The meeting starts at 7pm at the city's Westgate Hall.

* For the full story and comment see the Kentish Gazette (Thursday, March 8)