LORDSWOOD Football Club have offered a home next season to rivals VCD. Talks started four months ago and VCD’s lodging arrangement with Thamesmead expired last week.

VCD are developing their own ground near Crayford which will not be ready until 2004-05.

Lordswood chairman John O’Halloran confirmed: “Rather than see VCD drop out of the league, we are offering an arrangement that will see them through next season.

“It has to be a match-to-match arrangement because we are strictly a members’ only club and our constitution does not allow for anything longer.”

Kent League chairman Denise Richmond added: “We have received a letter from Lordswood investigating the possibility of allowing VCD to use their ground next season on a game-by-game basis.

“I’m bound to say that I’m not convinced that the match-to-match arrangement is something we could support as it stands. I’m sure there will be further discussions before our annual meeting.”

Meanwhile, Lordswood boss Barry Zillwood has criticised Maidstone manager Jim Ward for the way he handled the signing of striker Danny Kedwell.

He said: “Jim Ward told us that he wanted to sign Danny, but he telephoned the player before the end of the season. I’m not very happy about that and think the decent thing to do would have been to wait a week until our games were over.”

Despite the deal, Zillwood wishes the player well, but believes he should have aimed higher. “Playing as high as you can is what it's all about, however, I think he can do better than the Kent League,” he added.