Margate director Piper targets play-off places

Thursday 31st December 2009

MARGATE director Keith Piper says the club are looking forward to a much brighter new year, following a traumatic year both on and off the pitch.

The Hartsdown Park club has had a challenging year but it can also point to some significant progress - particularly off the pitch - which is expected to become the foundations to greater future success.

The club escaped relegation from the Ryman Premier League at the end of last season as Fisher Athletic went bust - but Margate also escaped closure by paying off their unpaid tax bill this year and with a new manager at the helm in Mark Butler, Mr Piper sees 2010 as a more enjoyable year.

“We have made substantial progress in key areas of stabilising the football club and that’s been really, really important to us,” Mr Piper told www.margate-fc.com.

“Dealing with the Inland Revenue, re-structuring the Board Room, the appointment of a new manager I think are all things that will start to benefit the club as we move into the New Year.

“Overall, I would say I feel a lot more comfortable with things as they are now than when I did a year ago.”

Mr Piper also expressed his concern and frustration at the pressure on the football club caused by so many postponements leading to so few home matches.

He confirmed the struggle that the club have endured and went on to say that, “we’ve got to continue to find solutions until we get back to some regular football income.”

Looking forward to 2010 and the remainder of the season, Mr Piper added: “We know, Mark (Butler) knows, there’s still a lot to do. I know that he’s hoping to make some changes to the squad in the early part of the New Year. There are players that he has identified; that he is talking to, that he wants to bring (to Margate).

“We will do everything we can to support him with that.”

Only eight points separate Margate (in 17th place) and fifth-placed side Tooting & Mitcham United.

Mr Piper added: “Anybody that puts a run of three or four games together could find themselves there or thereabouts. The play-off places are really up for grabs.

“I think more entertaining football will start to bring a few more supporters back through the turnstiles.”

Quotes courtesy of www.margate-fc.com

You can listen to audio commentary of the game between Margate and Maidstone United on Saturday, by visiting www.margate-fc.com.

Margate v Maidstone United

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 2nd January 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Hartsdown Park, Hartsdown Road, Margate, Kent CT9 5QZ