Margate stalwart Ken Tomlinson has ended his long association with the club by resigning for what he calls personal reasons.

The 78-year-old, who has been club secretary for 35 years, confirmed the news to the Thanet Extra on Monday night, admitting that he had taken the decision with a heavy heart.

Mr Tomlinson said the environment at the club meant he was no longer enjoying working at Hartsdown and he felt that his position had been undermined by other officers at the club.

He also refuted claims that he had been responsible for several administrative errors recently.

Manager Nikki Bull suggested that the signings of winger Charles Banya and defender Tariq Moore-Azille had both been held up by administrative errors in the past fortnight.

Mr Tomlinson, who was just eight when he watched his first Margate game, said: “It saddens me that it has come to this but I have not been enjoying it of late and the situation has become quite stressful.

“I discussed the matter with family and close friends – and everybody agreed I should get out and move on.

“I’ve been a voluntary servant here for 34-35 years and have never had any problems with any of the managers and I’ve made an awful lot of friends.

“If there have been any problems with the administrative side of things recently, then they’ve not been down to me.”

Mr Tomlinson said he had tendered his resignation in an email to chairman John Webb which was copied in to co-chairman designate Alistair Bayliss.

He added: “Alistair replied thanking me for all I had done and said I would always be welcome back but I can’t see that happening at the moment, not under the present leadership.

“I will continue to support the club, just as I always have and sincerely hope they pull things around but I’m not sure they will. There are just too many major issues.”

Mr Bayliss said the club were sorry to lose Mr Tomlinson but he said he sensed there had been a breakdown in some of the secretary’s key working relationships.

He added: “It was becoming apparent to me that Ken’s relationship with some of the staff was deteriorating.

“To me he looked that he was not happy with the direction the club are going in under the new regime which is trying to stabilise and move the club forward.

“Hopefully in time, Ken will start to enjoy his football again and he’ll be welcome back whenever he likes.

“Everyone at the club wishes he and his family well for the future and we can’t thank him enough for the years he has given this club. He has been remarkable.”

Gate chairman John Webb revealed on Tuesday morning that Mr Tomlinson and his wife Thirza would be made life presidents of the club who, he said, also planned to mark his achievements at a later date.

Mr Webb added: "‘It’s a really sad day for everyone associated with the club that Ken has decided to leave at this particularly tough time, but I fully understand and empathise with his reasons for doing so.

"Ken has been a wonderful servant to the club and everybody associated wish him and Thirza well for the future."