MARGATE supporters face an agonising day as the future of their club hangs in the balance.

Fans gathered at the club on Wednesday hoping for a positive outcome to behind-closed-doors crisis talks between directors, manager Chris Kinnear and a high level team from Thanet council.

After a tense two-hour meeting the council and the club issued a short statement to waiting media that a proposal had been put to the council that afternoon by the club but that no further comment would be issued until the whole matter is discussed by the district council cabinet tonight.

Fans have pledged to support the Gate to the wire and will be out in force on the town hall steps, although the directors have urged that they stage a peaceful protest.

The 110-year-old club could cease to exist in its present format by the end of this evening, depending on the outcome of the latest meeting.

The club development project team has repeatedly submitted multi-million pound redevelopment proposals for the Hartsdown Park stadium at Margate in the last three years, with the latest amendments made at the council's request during the local authority’s closed period during the Christmas holidays.

The council has repeatedly refused to accept the proposals saying they do not meet rigorous guidelines including a detailed project plan and fully backed and underwritten funding to secure the scheme.

One likely outcome of tonight's meeting is that the council instruct the club to reinstate the pitch it dug up two years ago, since when Margate fans have travelled to Dover and Ashford to watch the side. The council is also considering ending its relationship with the current project team and instructing officers to remarket the site for leisure use with other developers.

In turn, the club directors have publicly warned they will pursue legal action, consider a judicial review of the way negotiations have been handled and may make a claim of maladministration against the council.

Club president Gordon Wallis refused to be drawn as whether the afternoon's meeting with the council had been amicable.

Fans are desperate for an outcome that will keep the Kent club alive. Former kitman Ron Hewett from Margate has supported the Gate since 1945.

He said: "The ground was bequeathed to the people of Thanet by the Friend family, and Margate desperately needs to have a soccer team. The club has to redevelop to move forward and realise its potential.

"We all hope for a positive outcome but I am not confident. I believe the council has a hidden agenda to redevelop this site.

"Council officers stood and watched as the bulldozers moved in to begin redevelopment work on the ground two years ago but they did not object then.

"Loyal fans have given their all to the club, spending hours painting and redecorating the clubhouse and other parts of the stadium. We do not want all our work to be in vain. We love Margate FC and it if does disappear, I will go to Charlton to watch my football - I certainly won't cross Thanet to watch Ramsgate play."

KM-fm spoke to some supporters to gauge their feelings...