Lovell's side kick-off the new Ryman League season on 21 August

Ashford Town football club have entered administration after resigning from the Ryman League.

The Ryman South side were banned from all football by the FA two weeks ago because of unpaid loan fees.

They had assured fans the matter was in hand but on Tuesday chairman Don Crosbie called in administrators to "save our club from extinction".

The Nuts and Bolts now hope to drop down a level and play in the Kent League for the first time in 51 years.

Crosbie has been involved in a long-running dispute with co-owner Tony Betteridge - who launched a High Court bid to have the club wound up.

I genuinely feel that we are close to ending this sorry saga and putting Ashford Town on a much stronger financial footing Chairman Don Crosbie

In a statement on the club's website, Crosbie said: "After weeks of meeting with the club's solicitors and advisors it is with regret that we have asked the court to appoint an independent administrator to hopefully resolve the deadlock and allow the club to continue to play football.

"We have been advised that because of the seriousness of the situation, relegation would probably have been the penalty for our demise.

"So rather than suffer mid-season, we have been advised to resign from the Ryman League with immediate effect and apply for Kent League registration."

Crosbie also apologised to supporters after the Ryman League announced the news on their website before the club's fans had been informed.

He added: "I would like to add that this decision has not been taken lightly but it has been made with the survival of our football club in mind.

"I would like to assure fans that I have their best interests at heart.

"Our football club has suffered dearly over the last couple of years but I genuinely feel that we are close to ending this sorry saga and putting Ashford Town on a much stronger financial footing."

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