RESTAURANT owner David Folb has threatened to quit Maidstone and move his all-star Lashings cricket team to Surrey.

Folb published his threat in a press release after what he described as a “disappointing” gate of under 2,000 turned up to watch his World XI play Kent at the Mote on Monday.

Although the crowd for the Twenty20 game was one of the highest for any sporting event in Maidstone this year, Folb said sporting apathy in the town may force him to find a more commercially viable home for the side.

He said he had been holding talks with various clubs in Surrey about holding matches there.

Lashings have played their home matches at Sutton Valence School until this summer, when The Mote has been used as a venue, attracting a few thousand fans each time.

Mr Folb has been trying to gain access for Lashings to next season’s Twenty20 competition and wants to invite international sides to play warm-up games against Lashings at the Maidstone ground.

“To me Monday’s game was a huge failure,” he said. “If I’d had the local media and the council on my side I’d have had 5,000 down there. In Surrey they got behind us and we had 4,000 turn up.”

“Frankly, I am disappointed at the borough council's lack of interest,” added Mr Folb.

“The club is in great shape financially but we have to go where there are crowds and that does not seem to be Maidstone.

“It is a shame, but that is life! I am a Maidstone boy and will always be but sometimes you need a little support and we are not getting it"