GLENN AITKEN, Gravesend’s chief executive, believes the club will realise their ambition of a switch to full-time football once attendances average 2,500.

The Fleet’s average attendance this season has grown from last season’s 1,235 to 1,490 - an increase of 21 per cent. The club’s bright start to the season has led to fans flocking back to Stonebridge Road.

Mr Aitken said: “We put a generous season ticket scheme in place this season and sales are up 80 per cent. It remains the club’s ambition to switch to a full-time operation and this could be considered a strong possibility if gates were up to a regular 2,500.”

Mr Aitken was responding to a newspaper report quoting him saying gates were less than 1,000.

“It must have been a slow news week for some,” he said. “I was approached about Gillingham possibly relocating to Gravesham and was only able to say that we had nothing to add to our chairman’s statement of several weeks ago.

“A quote appears where I am apparently saying our gates are less than 1,000. This is nonsense.”