Margate have been threatened with expulsion from the Conference

The club has been threatened with expulsion from the Nationwide Conference if it does not have a new home by the spring.

Thanet Council said the funders, who have not been revealed, needed to give full plans for the project to go ahead.

"They have got planning consent and can start building virtually tomorrow," council leader Sandy Ezekiel said.

On Wednesday, Councillor Ezekiel said the identity of the backers was known, but they were not permitted to reveal any names.

Football club chairman Keith Piper said: "Our funders yesterday offered to put �7.6m into a client account at Thanet District Council."

He said the move was to demonstrate that funding for the project was available and "the seriousness with which they intend to deliver this project".