More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A football fan is raising money after his team was hit with a hefty fine.
On Friday, Dover Athletic FC was handed a £40,000 charge for missing matches by The National League Board.
A panel found the side had breached League Rule 8.39 after it failed to meet match obligations between February 16 and February 27.
Only playing 15 times in the season, compared to other clubs' 25-plus games, the decision was made due to the unaffordable costs due to the pandemic.
As a result of the board's findings, Dover will not play any more games this season and its existing records for 2020/2021 will be expunged.
Its 2021/22 season will begin with a 12-point deduction, and on top of all that it has been fined £40,000.
Prior to the board's decision, chairman Jim Parmenter told KentOnline: "It has been heartbreaking but it was a decision where there was no other choice really, we had to do it.
"We have carried on for nearly eight weeks now with nearly no funding at all and we have managed to keep the club going but we have simply run out of resources.
"We think we can remain solvent by taking this action, that is the key driver to doing it."
In the wake of the news, fan James Pearce has launched a JustGiving page to help his side's fight for financial survival.
He said: "Any football fan will appreciate the passion and importance of their home town.
"In Dover's case the pandemic has really hit home with the club forced to stop playing to avoid becoming insolvent.
"I ask any football fan, Dover or not, to please give what you can to help us continue playing next season."
Mr Pearce notes that all of the players, staff and management were furloughed last month.
He asked: "Any local business who can spare a small donation to help their town team continue playing.
"Other than streaming tickets we have not had to pay any gate fees this season and a single ticket admission donation would help massively to ensure you can continue to watch the whites next season."
He also wished to highlight his effort isn't linked to the club, but that it is supporter-driven.
"We cannot afford to continue..."
Dover Athletic's leadership announced yesterday the club would appeal the decision.
Mr Parmenter told Sky Sports News: "We believe we demonstrated just cause, backed up by lawyers and insolvency practitioners, but I don't think the league has taken that into account and they haven't explained why they have deemed us not to have just cause.
"We have been hung out to dry and made an example of to the rest of the league with this draconian punishment.
"They are trying to implement a rule book that is not designed to deal with issues like a pandemic.
"We've stuck our necks out while there are seven or eight other clubs in a similar situation scared stiff of the type of action the league has taken against us.
"We have demonstrated we cannot afford to continue, nor finance a loan, so how does issuing us with a £40,000 fine help football?"
Other sides, including Dulwich Hamlet and Bath, have also received fines and suspended point punishments.
They are likewise angered by the lack of sympathy in a year blighted by a pandemic and lockdowns.
To donate to Mr Pearce's cause, or for more information, click here.
