LEIGH RMI will play in the Nationwide Conference for a fifth successive season.

The Hilton Park club were relegated after they finished next to bottom, but earned the reprieve when Margate accepted they were not

in a position to bring their Hartsdown Park ground up to Conference standard.

Gate had been denied an extension to their groundsharing arrangement with Dover Athletic and have opted not to appeal against that decision and instead return to their own ground and drop down a division.

A statement on the club's official website confirmed: "Members were keen to see their Football Club return to Hartsdown Park and were prepared to concede full Conference status in order to do so."

Gate's decision needs to be ratified by the Conference Board, with Leigh RMI now almost certain to avoid relegation as a result.

Manager Phil Starbuck was delighted, but cautious until the news is confirmed by Conference officials.

"We can start building a team and do ourselves justice next season," he said. "It is an exciting time with the new ground and if we can survive we have a rosy future.

"Most of the players I have been talking to want to play in the Conference, so I am hoping I can make a number of signings as soon as we have confirmation. We are no illusions as to the difficulties we will face, however, as we will have the smallest budget by far."

Chief Executive Michael Peck said: "We are all absolutely delighted we have been reinstated back into the Conference next season. We were always confident we would do, due to Margate's circumstances which we don't wish on anybody, but this gives us a new lifeline and the chance to move forward.

"We had difficulties last season with Mark Patterson going and the current manager having players under contract that he didn't want, but we have come through it and it is fabulous news."