THE future for Faversham Town looks bleaker than ever after their resignation from the Go Travel Kent League.

The decision, taken by chairman Tony Hillier-Carter without his manager’s consent, means that just 13 years after Town lifted the Kent League championship they stand on the brink of collapse.

Where they go from here is anybody’s guess, because Mr Hillier-Carter refused to answer any questions put to him by Kent Online's sister newspaper, the Faversham News, this week.

Mr Hillier-Carter, who claims to be managing director of a holding company set up to look after the interests of the football club, said he had been disgusted with the coverage the club had been given by the newspaper. Fellow shareholder John Glover was unavailable for comment.

Manager Hughie Stinson has described the situation as “an absolute disgrace”. He revealed that he did not know the club had resigned from the league until contacted by the Faversham News on Monday.

Stinson said he felt Mr Hillier-Carter and his fellow shareholders should have walked away from the club several weeks ago.

He said: “I’ve not spoken to Tony Hillier-Carter for six weeks but that’s no surprise. After all, I’m only the manager.

“I warned him this could happen and suggested he walked away weeks ago. I know there are people at the Kent League who don’t want to lose us but equally we can’t carry on as we are.

“This is the town’s team, not theirs and it’s absolutely disgraceful that they’ve allowed this to happen.

“I know rules are rules but if they had gone when we suggested we could have paid the fine and seen the season out.

“What they’ve done is just lousy.

“They’ve denied the children of the town the chance to play senior football. They should have gone and left the club in the hands of people who care.”

Town have been suspended by the Kent County FA since mid-March for non payment of a £7 fine.

Their resignation means that their final eight league games will remain unplayed but their resignation came too late for their record to be expunged from the table.

Mr Hillier-Carter said at the time that he was not happy with the treatment his club were getting from the county, who, he said had not looked into complaints made by Town about referee Gary Johnson.

The Newington official sent three Town players off in the league game against Herne Bay in January and subsequently questioned their right to senior status.

Mr Hillier-Carter responded by sending a report to the county saying Mr Johnson was not good enough to be officiating at this level.

He claims that the matter has been ignored.

Town coach Bobby Mason has been associated with the club for more than 20 years and he said it was the saddest day of his career.

The veteran, who was captain of Paul Prior’s 1990 championship-winning squad, added: “Basically they’ve left the club right up the Swanee.

“I think it’s very sad that it should have come to this."

The claim of Mr Hillier-Carter and shareholders John Glover and Richard Bowden-Brown to run the club has been challenged by Saudi Arabian businessman and former club chairman Sal Aisawi.

He says he still owns the club and an associated limited company.

His son Karim, who still lives locally, said his father would be far from happy with the latest developments.

He explained: “Our concern is that certain people are looking after their own interests rather than those of the club, but my dad has set the ball rolling.

“He’s got his solicitor involved and the people in question should be hearing from him very shortly.”