Folkestone Invicta’s future at the Fullicks Stadium looks secure after the club was granted a five-year lease by Shepway District Council.

Having played at the ground on Cheriton Road without a lease for the last decade, Invicta had been anxious to sort out a more concrete agreement.

The council’s cabinet met last week having been told "the relationship between the football club and the council cannot remain unregulated."

And following those negotiations, Invicta will continue to play at the ground for a further year rent-free, before paying what chairman Mark Jenner described as "very reasonable" rent.

Mr Jenner said: "Future rent becomes payable once the CVA payments have been completed in some 12 months’ time.

"The rent demanded by the council is very reasonable for the facilities we occupy and especially so in comparison with some other clubs we visit – so we should express our thanks to the officials at the council who have facilitated this arrangement.

"Our repairing obligations will be on an 'as is' basis so we will not have to make good any pre-existing defects.

"We already carry out our own maintenance, so this is not seen as particularly onerous and we will ensure that we have insurance to cover the bigger issues should they arise."

Read the full story in the Folkestone & Hythe Express.