By Andrew Gidley

Chatham chairman Jeff Talbot this week welcomed the club’s return to Ryman League, Division 1 South but admitted he wished the circumstances had been different.

The switch from Division 1 North was confirmed following a Ryman League board meeting on Tuesday, when troubled Ashford Town resigned, with the club set to go into administration next week.

Mr Talbot, pictured, said: "It’s disappointing it had to happen this way. It’s good to be back, but unfortunate it has to be at the expense of another Kent club."

League chairman Alan Turvey said: "Returning Chatham to the South division was the logical thing to do."

The new 2010/11 fixtures see Chatham start life under new boss Paul Foley at home to Corinthian Casuals but home games against Sittingbourne and Faversham have been fixed for midweek and Mr Talbot is already counting the cost.

He said: "It means we will lose about 200 through the gate at each game. It will cost us around £1,000 in gate revenue and adding on what is spent inside the ground, means that £1,400 goes adrift."

Chatham play their first pre-season friendly at Herne Bay on Saturday in the Titch Willett Trophy (3pm).