FLEET TOWN vice-chairman Richard Whittington has confirmed that boss Craig Davis and his players have stuck with the club despite being told there is no money to pay them.
The Evo-Stik League Southern Division One Central side have been struggling since the sudden death of chairman Steve Cantle just before Christmas.
The Hampshire outfit are now discovering that without Cantle’s financial support, they do not have the cash required to carry on.
Staff and players were told in February that there was no money available to pay them and even though the majority of players don’t receive a wage, expenses would now not be covered.
Since that news, only two of Davis’ squad have moved on and Fleet have won five of their last eight games which has seen them climb to mid-table.
The Blues now say that they need support to “make sure Fleet Town continues for the years to come” and without physical and financial aid, the club “won’t survive”.
In a statement, secretary and vice-chairman Whittington said: “On behalf of Fleet Town and the committee I thought it was time to update you as to the club’s situation since the passing of Steve Cantle at the end of last year.
“Steve’s untimely death has left a massive hole in the club emotionally but particularly financially and we are only now discovering the true financial input of Steve. He was in no uncertain terms bankrolling the playing budget.
“Firstly, however I would like to thank our manager Craig Davis, his staff and the players for staying with us despite the fact that they were informed at the beginning of February that there would be no money to pay them. Their performances since Christmas have been fantastic and I am proud to be associated with them.
“We have been looking and asking for a new chairman to lead us through these difficult times and several fans have been very generous in making donations to the club to ensure that matches go ahead.
“All of the committee are volunteers and we now need you to support the club to make sure that Fleet Town FC continues for the years to come. That is the paramount concern.
“We would like to pay the players, they are the ones who put the numbers through the turnstile (bums on seats) but at this moment, as the players and staff are aware, we cannot do that if it is to the detriment of the club.
“We cannot pay out what we do not have. Without support both physical and financial the club won’t survive.”
