KENT’S appeal against the eight-point penalty imposed for an alleged poor pitch in Maidstone is due to be heard on Thursday, June 16.

That is the day ECB officials have pencilled in to hear the club’s mitigation against the pitch panel decision made by Tony Pigott, David Hughes and Harry Brind.

Kent lodged their appeal with Lord’s within 24 hours of the penalty imposition and have since deposited a £5,000 bond with the ECB to cover any appeal costs.

Though the county are still formulating their appeal plans and selecting the officials who will be involved, Kent chief executive Paul Millman says the fight will be taken very seriously.

He said: "We are going to give it our best shot, not just because of the points lost, but for our players, officials, members and supporters, who no doubt feel aggrieved.

"All our senior officers of the club are getting involved in putting our case together and helping us with our plan of action, so yes, we are taking it very seriously."

Kent supporters are indeed up in arms and expressing their strong views on the bulletin board on the club’s website.

One supporter said the eight-point penalty was "unjust as the pitch was the same for both sides", while others called the sentence "daft", "hefty" and "downright ridiculous".

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