The directors of Herne Bay FC have revealed the club may not be in existence next season.

The revelation came in an astonishing statement published on the club's website prior to Saturday's Bostik South East game at Whyteleafe.

It bizarrely claimed "social media trolls have finally won the day" as it revealed that:

• Joint-managers John Embery and Jermaine Darlington have resigned
• Relegation to the Southern Counties East League next season 'looks inevitable'
• They may not be able to field a team next weekend

The statement said: "The social media trolls have finally won the day.

"The management team have been hounded out of the club and as such the club are playing Whyteleafe with Anthony Deer taking the team.

"Whether we will have a team to field next Saturday is in the lap of the footballing gods. Relegation back to the SCEFL looks to be inevitable.

"Whether there will be a club next season is unclear.

"The board have put so much effort over the years but the past two weeks has become so demoralising.

"These keyboard warriors who hide behind false titles post what they like without knowing the full facts, criticising the board and their decisions and it is these individuals who have destroyed this football club.

"Hopefully we can all get behind and support Anthony for the remaining games."

The departures of Embery and Darlington comes just days after Embery defended key members of Herne Bay's board of directors.

At the end of February, Herne Bay have revealed that the decision to free Jake Embery from his contract was driven by financial necessity. The striker then moved to join Maidstone.

Read more: All the latest sports news in Kent