MARGATE have released seven of their promotion winning squad ahead of their return to the Vanarama National League South.
The Gate beat Hendon 1-0 in Sunday’s delayed Ryman Premier play-off final thanks to a Ryan Moss goal.
And boss Terry Brown has already started planning for next season, announcing seven of the squad that helped the club up won’t be featuring next season.
Matthew Armstrong-Ford, Mitchell Nelson, Tambeson Eyong, John Beales, Ben Gerring, Anthony Riviere and Tom Phipp have all been released.
Manager Brown said: “There is no doubt that this part of the job is the worst. Usually you have to release players at the end of the season because you haven’t achieved what you set out to do but that is not the case this time.
“We set out to win promotion and that is what we did and this is why this time it was even more difficult but having lost a few weeks we needed to act quickly to ensure that we continue to progress as a club.
“The players we have let go have been fantastic servants to the club and have helped Margate Football Club gain promotion and I am sure the fans will show their appreciation to them.”