Pellatt: Christmas crowd can clear debt

Folkestone Invicta chairman Jim Pellatt is calling on fans to turn out in force for their Boxing clash with Hythe Town in Ryman South so they can end the year completely debt-free.

Invicta are kicking off at home on December 26 for the first time in three years and a bumper crowd at the Fullicks Stadium will help the club pay the final installment of its five year Creditors Agreement (CVA) three months early.

According to Pellatt, pictured, successfully securing the Kent club's financial future will also enable the club to press ahead with preparing the Fullicks Stadium for eventual promotion under manager Neil Cugley to the Ryman's top flight.

He said: "We have a ground grading already for this level, but once the CVA is paid up, we will be looking to prepare for promotion over the next couple of seasons, and will be able to give Neil far better support on the playing side.

"We want to prepare now, and to achieve a ground grading for Ryman Premier, we need to re-lay the walkways and areas surrounding the pitch, and complete some other minor works.

"In anticipation, the football club has applied to the Football Association, with the support of local MP, Damian Collins, for a grant of a maximum of 50 per cent of the estimated cost of carrying the much-needed work."

The chairman added: "Our share of the cost will be around £6500 and with pledges of around £2000 towards our 50 per cent already received, we look forward to completing the work in the new year."

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