DEVELOPERS the Stadia Investment Group have strongly refuted Margate’s claims that they are to blame for the delay in the redevelopment of Hartsdown.

The company has issued a statement after comments made by the club following a emergency meeting with Thanet District Council last month.

A letter signed by Jerry Connolly, of SIG, said: “We take very seriously and strongly refute the assertion by Margate Football Club that our company has not delivered on its contractual obligations.

“We are aware that Thanet District Council fully endorses SIG’s position that any proposed develoment could not be funded without having first received the relevant planning permission together with an agreed lease structure.

“It is not economically viable to financially support any proposed development without having first received the relevant planning permission.

“It would seem however the directors of Margate FC are unwilling to accept this is their relationship with SIG and have sought intead to tarnish the good name of SIG.”

The statement goes on to way that SIG have instructed their lawyers to take the “necessary action” to protect the company’s interests and its reputation as one of the UK’s foremost sports developers.

Gate chairman Jim Parmenter said he was reluctant to be drawn into a war of words with SIG, who were no longer part of the revelopment project.

He hinted, however, that the club may well be taking action of their own against the developers.

Mr Parmenter explained: “The scheme they had planned with us did not work for various reasons but I don’t want to say any more because it could well be the matter of litigation in the future.

“The directors of the club took the decision they did in the best interests of the football club and we are in almost daily contact with the district council to see how we can move things on.”

Mr Parmenter said he remained hopeful that a new stadium project would be in place soon but in the meantime the Gate will play the rest of the season at Dover after a deal to secure Ashford fell through. Margate did actually play their FA Cup replay against Grays at Ashford’s Homelands Stadium last month but tomorrow are due back at the Hoverspeed to face conference rivals Woking.

Mr Parmeter said: “We looked at Ashford as an option and they were very helpful but we were unable to get permission from the conference in sufficent time so there was no alternative but to stay at Dover.

“It took some hard negotiating but despite what some fans think we do get on quite well with Dover.”

The Gate are away to Conference leaders Hereford on Saturday.