Dover could go bust within weeks
Dover Athletic chairman Jim Parmenter says the club are on the brink.
Mr Parmenter has made the entire playing staff available for free transfer after they rejected a 20% reduction in pay.
The club chairman issued a statement on Monday in which he said the club could fold at the end of this month if their financial situation doesn’t improve.
National League side Dover aren’t due to start their 2020/21 campaign until Saturday, October 3. It means another two months without muchneeded matchday revenue. Their last game in the league was on Saturday, March 14.
The full statement said:
“The board have been busy assessing the club’s financial position and immediate future due to the very difficult circumstances of the COVID 19 pandemic.
“The club is still unsure of its income in the coming season but the board are clear income will greatly reduce.
“The club has 14 players under contract for next season and at a meeting last week the club’s position was explained in detail to the players and staff. “At that meeting the players and staff were asked to accept a 20% short-term reduction in salary to assist the club in its efforts to stay solvent and keep the club alive, bearing in mind the club will move from four to three days training. “The management have accepted the proposal, however, unfortunately the players have not agreed. “Therefore it is with great regret that I must announce that all of the squad are now available for free transfer as an initial immediate step. “I must further inform supporters that if a solution or further investment cannot be found by the end of August it is likely that the directors will consider the club insolvent and as a consequence will be forced to cease trading.
“The directors are doing everything they can to keep the club afloat, but require the support of our playing squad.” Fans have been told their season ticket purchases are fully protected and “a full refund will be issued if the worse happens.”