DOVER ATHLETIC are half way to the sum of £48,000 which they need to raise to ensure the club survives into the New Year.

Mike Webb, one of the three-man board of trustees who are administering the Fighting Fund, said: “At a very conservative estimate we have raised £23,500 so far, and there is a lot of floating money out there still to come in.”

But, with only two weeks left before the December 31 deadline, club chairman Mike Kemp stressed: “I believe we are still on course to reach the target, but there is still a lot more work that needs to be done before we're home and dry.”

Although Whites’ current results are doing little to lift their fans' morale, there are enough positive developments off the pitch to suggest the club still has a future, with a myriad of local politicial and fund-raising initiatives.

Dover and Deal MP Gwyn Prosser raised the matter of the club’s VAT liabilities in the House of Commons, asking for a debate to examine the impact of the complex VAT rules on small clubs such as Dover.

He said: “The club’s supporters are doing a great job running local events and raising funds to rescue DAFC, and I've been pleased to help Mike Webb and his fellow trustees by raising the problems that the VAT rules are causing.”

Paul Watkins, the leader of Dover District Council, from whom the club rent the Hoverspeed Stadium, said: “We are supportive of the club in their fight to overcome their insolvency problem.

“We are aware of the role that Dover Athletic play, through their excellent youth system, in helping to combat the problem of anti-social behaviour amongst youngsters, and we will endeavour to help them as much as possible.”

Mr Webb says he continues to be heartened by the response of the local community to Dover’s plight.

The question of the £13,000 VAT demand has caught the attention of clubs up and down the country, fearful that they too could be in line for a similar bombshell after misunderstanding the rules over the sale of hot food at grounds.

The problem surfaced when Dover had a routine VAT inspection on October. Having been under the impression that hot footd sales were zero-rated, they were hit by a bill for £13,000, dating back to 2001.

A spokesman for the Customs and Excise confirmed: “Hot foot for consumption and takeaway is standard-rated and has been for some time. But we will always work to reach a reasonable statement.”

*Cheques for the Dover Athletic Fighting Fund should be sent to Trustees of DAFC, Town Centre Management, 21 Pencester Road, Dover, CT16 1BT or go to the 'Related Website' link below.

*Mike Webb has been speaking to KM-fm Sports Editor Simon Watts...