POLITICIANS from all main parties are trying to help Dover Athletic escape their immediate £13,000 VAT liability.

Whites' woes are a growing national story as clubs the length of the country, worried they could be hit with similar demands, have been in touch.

The hope, still distant, is that if many other clubs are in a similar position, a general amnesty will be granted.

Dover and Deal MP Gwyn Prosser said: "I discussed the club's difficulties with Mike Webb, Dover's Town Centre Manager and one of the three trustees and agreed to raise the club's problems in Parliament."

All backbench MPs can enter a lottery to have a subject discussed and Mr Prosser is now waiting to see whether he is successful.

Mr Prosser continued: "I have written to the Speaker of the House of Commons requesting a special debate on the floor of the chamber and made written representations to the Chancellor and to the Treasury Minister responsible for VAT collections, Dawn Primarolo.

"I have had informal discussions with the Head of VAT Collections in the South East and he has agreed to review Dover's file and have discussions with me to explore possible ways forward."

The matter has also been passed to Chancellor Gordon Brown's office.

Conservative district council leader councillor Paul Watkins has been in touch with the shadow minister for sport, Hugh Roberts.

And leader of the opposition, Michael Howard, was reported in the national press this week to be interested in Dover's situation. Mr Howard, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, attends Folkestone Invicta games at Cheriton Road.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate Antony Hook said: "Dover Athletic is an important cultural facility in the same way as art galleries, museums, and cinemas. Without such places the community would be a social wasteland.

"It would not be in the overall public interest for Dover Athletic to close. That can be averted by Treasury discretion to delay collection of the club's VAT and that is what I am fighting for."

Mr Webb said: "The matter could affect 1,000 football clubs. Clearly there are large political implications. Gwyn Prosser has made the point that if the club goes broke, the VAT people don't get their money."

The Fighting Fund had reached a total of £19,000 on Tuesday, in less than a fortnight. Almost £10,000 was raised in less than 16 hours on Saturday when a Fighting Fund Trustee and former Whites director Kevin King pledged to donate £250, up to a total of £5,000, for every other pledge of £250 received.

The online fund at PayPal has raised £2,000 and anyone wishing to donate can do so via a link on the www.doverathletic.com homepage.

The supporters' fund-raising walk through Dover on Saturday raised nearly £300. But nearly £30,000 still needs to be found in just over three weeks, over £1,000 a day, every day, including the Christmas holiday.

If Whites survive this crisis, they could eventually see their dreaded Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) come to an end a year early.

The Fighting Fund trustees issued a statement this week, which implied the cash payable from their 2002-3 FA Cup run could reduce the overall CVA by £23,000.

But Dover Athletic financial director Steve Cattermole denied this, saying the wording of the relevant ‘Modification Five’ clause was ambiguous and the club was still awaiting a definite decision.

Whites’ fans hoping former Dover director and Margate chairman Jim Parmenter would bail out the club will be disappointed to hear Mr Parmenter seems certain not to be rejoining the board.

Despite this setback, fund-raising efforts are continuing apace.

The Ramada Hotel at Whitfield has donated two tables each for 10 people (normally £25 per head), for a Christmas function for sale to the highest bidder.

A statement from club’s main sponsor Hoverspeed said: “Hoverspeed believes the rest of the town should follow our lead and back the club.”

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 link below.