by Danny Boyle

Ebbsfleet United might never get an eagerly-anticipated new stadium amid a bitter stand-off between club bosses and council planners.

The Fleet's plans for a new ground, which we exclusively revealed back in April, hang in the balance after Kent County Council wrote the club out of its own vision for the proposed site.

The club, boosted after lifting the FA Trophy last year, wanted to strike a joint venture over a piece of land between the old and new A2 to make its dreams of a new 8,000-capacity stadium a reality.

But, in a report to councillors, KCC says it is "not associated with any negotiations with Ebbsfleet United" and believes a football stadium does not fit with its planned activity park.

In another bitter blow to the Fleet, the council was awarded planning permission on Tuesday for the £10million community sports venue.

Brian Kilcullen, Ebbsfleet United director, said: "If KCC doesn't want to know, we have no other option; there are no other sites for the club. KCC is killing off our chances of a new stadium.

"We should be working together for what the supporters and residents want. I have been banging my head against a brick wall, but they won’t co-operate. We are working very hard to persuade them otherwise because we know it is something the people of Gravesham want."

But Laurence Tricker, KCC activity park project manager, said: "There is no opportunity for a joint venture. The football club has not put forward any workable proposals to the county council. We do not feel a football stadium would be suitable here.

"Our consultation has found that residents are worried about noise from the activity centre. Heaven knows what they would make of a football stadium too."