Don Crosbie says he is is staggered and disappointed after Ashford United were fined £750 by the Southern Counties East League after failing to fulfill their opening fixture of the season against Beckenham Town last month.

He appeared before a disciplinary commission last Wednesday to answer the charge, but admitted he was unhappy the outcome, despite £500 being suspended.

The game was called off due to delays with the installation of the new 3G pitch at Homelands, the first stage of the multi-million pound wrap around stadium plans.

United owner Mr Crosbie blamed Operation Stack for holding up progress even further following the initial delays in transportation and in customs

Reacting to the fine, he said: “I am really disappointed, staggered and horrified that the echelons of football don’t support the grassroots and little non-profit making community clubs like ours.

“We should be patted on the back for what we have done, providing the sort of facilties that local authorities or the Football Association don’t fund.

“I won’t be appealing, and I will pay the fine. I would pay £10,000 if I had to, because it is the principle of the thing, there is no support.”

The new surface survived a soaking on Tuesday ahead of the 1-1 draw against Lordswood with Mr Crosbie hailing it as “beautiful and absolutely perfect.”

He added: “ If the game had been played on grass, it would have been off, as would (tenants) Canterbury City's game against Deal the following evening.

Meanwhile United trio, Nathan Paul, Dave Cook and Jamie Collado have left United this week.

Paul, who joined the club at the start of the season, has followed former striker Stuart Zanone to Greenwich, while Cook and Collado have rejoined Hythe, following the appointment of the former’s father Clive as new joint-boss at Reachfields.

United are at to Corinthian on Saturday (3pm), and Deal next Tuesday (7.45pm) unless the latter's FA Cup tie at St Albans City requires a replay,

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