Fans rally for cash-strapped Gate

Margate fans are worried about the cash-strapped club's future

Supporters of financially-troubled Ryman Premier side Margate are staging a show at the town's theatre to raise money to pay the club's debts.

The Margate Supporters Association has organised a show at the Theatre Royal on Saturday which will be headlined by Lord Phil Royle and the Rocking Royles.

The profits will go towards the club's outstanding £50,000 tax bill.

Chairman of the supporters club Tom McKenna said: "Fans need to help the club through this current crisis."

He added: "It's well publicised that the club has got this tax bill so we're hoping to raise money to put towards that and the day-to-day running of the football club.

"If we can fill the theatre we can give them £5,000.

If we can get them through this then hopefully we can get onto a more even keel Tom McKenna

A winding-up petition against Margate has been brought by HM Revenue and Customs, it will be heard next month.

Mr McKenna said: "We've got until November 26th but I'm assured by Keith Piper [Margate's chairman] that providing everything goes well on the development side, the developer will then release money to pay off the income tax.

"A football club at this level must cost the best part of £250,000 a year to run and it doesn't come through the gate in the home matches we've got.

"If we can get them through this then hopefully we can get onto a more even keel and move onwards.

"We've got a very young team this year and it's going to need time to build but I believe we will have a successful side for the future."

Three hundred tickets - costing £10 for adults and £5 for children - have been sold for the event, with another 140 available.