MARGATE claim to have agreed a deal to reinstate Hartsdown Park to a Conference South standard in time for the beginning of next season.

The club issued a statement on Tuesday that an agreement had been reached, in principle, with developer Gary Lever.

It said: "The agreement and this course of action solves Margate Football Club's immediate need to return, and gives all parties time to resolve the in depth matters that have been raised by the council's appointed solicitors and surveyors to formulate the agreement required to allow the ground to be developed to full Conference standard.

"The club is extremely happy that a solution has at last been found and Thanet District Council have been informed of this agreement."

However, council leader Sandy Ezekiel claimed he knew nothing of the details involved this morning.

He said on Tuesday that a meeting is planned for Thursday after the deadline for the latest round of negotiations between the district council, the club's development project team and their funders, ran out.

The club wants to create a £10m stadium and leisure facility but the council has repeatedly insisted it needs to receive a detailed project and business plan together with confirmed sustainable funding before it continues talks.

Any comprehensive scheme would need full planning permission and Cllr Ezekiel said recently the Government Office for the South East would probably be asked to consider the project.