LEIGH RMI's hopes of escaping relegation from the Nationwide Conference have received a massive boost after Margate's application to play next seasons' home games at Dover was rejected.

Leigh will play in Conference North if Margate are handed a reprieve but their Hartsdown Park ground requires redevelopment to meet league criteria and they have played at The Crabble for the past season and a half.

But league officials have told them that it's a situation that cannot continue.

Margate have called an Emergency Meeting to decide their next move with less than three weeks to go to prove to the Conference that they have the facilities to play football at this level next season.

Continued uncertainty hampers Phil Starbuck's planning for the forthcoming campaign but the manager's been dealt a blow with the news that Assistant Manager Gary Kelly requires surgery on damaged thumb ligaments.

The goalkeeper sustained the injury in the 5-0 Boxing Day defeat at Chester but the extent was missed leaving Ian Martin to take over the reigns until the end of the campaign.

Kelly is expected to be fit to compete for the shotstoppers' jersey in time for the start of the new season. But he could miss pre-season action that will take see the Railwaymen take on both Everton and Leeds United.