Margate manager Terry Yorath is hoping to give his side’s relegation fight a big boost by extending Liam Harwood’s loan from Bristol Rovers until the end of the season.

The talented 20-year-old central defender has been outstanding for the Gate since joining them on an initial one month’s loan just before Christmas.

Yorath then negotiated a two-month extension and is now hoping the League 1 side will allow Harwood to stay in Kent for the rest of the campaign.

Yorath said: “The big thing for the club now is to keep Liam here until the end of the season, and I am hoping the deal will be done this week.”

This Saturday Margate are away to Maidstone United, to whom they have already lost twice this season: 2-0 at Hartsdown in the league in October, and then 2-1 away in the Kent Senior Cup in November.

“It was men against boys when we played them at home, but Saturday will provide a good yardstick as to how much we have improved since then," added Yorath.

Meanwhile, Ramsgate boss Jim Ward is confident his side can still avoid relegation despite losing their appeal against a points deduction this week.

He said: “Of course the decision makes it more difficult for us, but we’ve got to look at things in a positive way.

"We’ve got seven games left and seven wins would be enough to keep us up. The first step is to beat Hastings on Saturday.”