National League Dover Athletic furlough all players and management

Chairman Jim Parmenter said he has been left with no other option after the initial government grant funding ended in December.

Clubs can apply to Sport England for funding but there is no guarantee that grants will be provided.

The Whites are currently bottom of the National League and are nine points from safety.

Parmenter said: “We are operating in unprecedented times. We have to make difficult decisions.

“We wanted to leave the decision that has been made as long as possible before making this final announcement in the hope a support package may appear.

“Unfortunately no support has been forthcoming, so it is with the deepest regret that the club must now furlough all staff and players and reduce operations to a bare minimum.

“All financial reserves have now been completely exhausted.

“For 15 years, I have run the club without debt and I do not intend to change that now.

“The club will be unable to fulfill further National League fixtures until appropriate funding is made available.”

Parmenter recently resigned from the National League board saying they have ‘very little credibility’ and that he could no longer their actions.

Clubs in the National League, National League North and National League South continue to vote on whether the season should continue or be cancelled.

“Even if the vote is to continue I do not believe that the league will be able to continue in any credible form or with integrity for another five months,” Parmenter said.