At one stage, we were confronted with the very real threat of having to lock the doors, reveals Erith & Belvedere co-chairman Paul Springett

ERITH & BELVEDERE co-chairman Paul Springett says the club is currently in a precarious financial position.

The Park View Road outfit are currently in ninth-place in the ninth-tier Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table, having picked up four wins, four draws and four defeats.

The Deres, jointly-managed by former Stansfeld pair, Billy Hamlin and Jamie Phipps, welcome Wallingford & Crownmarsh in The FA Vase First Round tomorrow.

Erith & Belvedere's Attendances at Park View Road this season:
Tuesday 13 August - League - Home - Fisher  - W2-1 - 170
Monday 26 August - League - Home - VCD Athletic - D0-0  228
Tuesday 3 September - League - Home - Punjab United - L0-1 - 162
Tuesday 10 September - League - Home - Stansfeld - W2-1 - 177
Saturday 21 September - FA Vase 2QR - Home - Frimley Green - W2-1 - 78
Saturday 28 September - League - Home - Sutton Athletic - D2-2 - 135

“Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for their incredible support so far this season,” said Springett, in a statement.

“It’s been a promising start to our league campaign, with plenty of cup competitions still to compete for.  Your presence, enthusiasm and backing have been invaluable and give us the drive to push forward.

“As chairman, I want to be transparent about the financial situation our club currently faces.

“The cost of promotion, followed by the setback of relegation, compounded by a period of unsound financial management, has left us in a precarious position.

“At one stage, we were confronted with the very real threat of having to lock the doors.

“Although we are still navigating through choppy waters, we are relentlessly pursuing solutions to secure the club’s future.

“On top of these challenges, we have inherited legacy debts, including a bounce-back loan, that have further strained our finances.

“My main priority is to ensure the club operates within our means while steadily reducing our debt in a sustainable and sensible way, all while maintaining our competitiveness on the pitch.

“This is a difficult balance to achieve but it is essential if we are to protect the long-term future of our club.

“It’s also worth highlighting our growing youth section, which includes boys’ and girls’ teams across multiple age groups, from under 12s to under 18s.

“We are actively working to expand the mini-soccer side of grassroots football, which is fantastic to see and creates a real pathway for youth development.  This growth in our youth programme reflects our commitment to building a strong foundation for the club’s future.

“I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our incredible first-team management and staff, our youth managers and all our committee members.

“I have no doubt that this club is capable of achieving great things.  We are incredibly fortunate to have loyal sponsors, a dedicated management team, committed players and, above all, the best supporters any club could hope for.

“With such tremendous backing, I am confident we can overcome these obstacles and work towards building a brighter, stronger future together.

“Non-League football truly relies on its fans, the community and our youth section to attend games, buy a burger, have a tea, enjoy a beer and support your club.  Every bit of involvement helps build a sustainable future.  Thank you for your continued belief and support.”

Visit Erith & Belvedere's website:  www.thederes.co.uk