MARGATE chairman Jim Parmenter has dismissed speculation about manager Chris Kinnear’s future at the club as “paper talk”.

Kinnear, whose contract expires in the summer, was reported to be “top of a six man short list” at ambitious Dr Martens League club Crawley who are looking to appoint a successor to Billy Smith.

But Mr Parmenter said: “We don’t have a stance on the situation. It’s just paper talk. Every non-league club in the south would be interested in Chris. But it would be a step down for him because he is a Conference manager now.”

The report in last week’s Non League Paper suggested that Kinnear fitted the bill, and quoted him as saying : “They (Crawley) have got just about everything. The club has unbelievable potential with a huge catchment area and a good support base. My contract is up at the end of the season, but if Crawley want to speak to me it is up to Margate."

Mr Parmenter stressed: “We have had no contact, either officially or unofficially, from Crawley. Chris is under contract until the summer and we will have talks with him at some point about the future.”

On Saturday Kinnear's team were defeated 4-1 at improving Forest Green which leaves them still only five points above the Conference relegation zone. Victories for three of the bottom four - Gravesend, Leigh RMI and Kettering - keeps the pressure on the Thanet club.