The Hartsdown Park site has stood empty for two years

A meeting on Thursday with Thanet District Council failed to yield a final decision over the club's plans to rebuild on its former ground.

Now Thanet Council have given the club 14 days to submit new proposals and they will take a further two weeks to discuss them.

Club president Gordon Wallis said he was "delighted" by the outcome.

'Last chance'

Mr Wallis said: "This time yesterday I personally had no decision on my mind other that we were going down.

"So tonight is a big step for us."

He added that he was sure Margate Football Club could produce what is required by the local authorities "so they can say yes".

Richard Samuel, chief executive of Thanet District Council, said it was good news for the club that they had been given an extra 14 days.

He added that the offers received on Thursday from the club persuaded councillors to change their minds.

But he warned: "This is the last chance, there will be no more chances. We hope the club will do what we are asking for."

Hartsdown Park had been Margate's home since 1929.

Margate have been playing home games at Dover Athletic's ground

It was closed and demolished in 2002, with plans for rebuilding on the same site, but work stopped after a disagreement about ownership of the land if the club went bust.

Margate have played at Dover Athletic's ground since 2002, during which time they have been demoted from the Conference because ground-sharing was not allowed at that level.

In October, the council offered the club a 10-year lease on the land with a view to allowing building work to start.

Club bosses said they planned to have the team playing in the new stadium at the start of next season in August 2005.

Plans were submitted to the council in December but the club has been informed the work cannot go ahead "without certain key information".