Worcester urge fans to save club

Hampson says Worcester City's financial position is now critical

Worcester City chairman Anthony Hampson says the football club will not survive unless the community start supporting the team and come to the games.

The cash-strapped club have already cut players' wages and released several members of staff to save money.

"I'm asking for the supporters to come forward and give us their support," Hampson told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

"The situation is very serious. The players' wages this week will be coming from the gate receipts."

Hampson was only appointed chairman of Worcester City in November when he took over from Dave Boddy and he admits that he is still struggling to quantify the full extent of the club's debts.

We will be having an emergency board meeting on Monday and I have asked for all directors to be present

Anthony Hampson

He is well aware that the final Saturday before Christmas is traditionally one of the worst for football attendances in any season, but insists the club's position is now critical.

"We will be having an emergency board meeting on Monday and I have asked for all directors to be present," he said.

"There, I will be considering the future of the club."

City are in an unusual position in that they are asset-rich in terms of the proposed sale of stadium St George's Lane to housing developers, but the main problem is their short-term cash flow.

"The complacency of the management I am seeking to replace is that they have sought refuge from the bank purely because they have had a substantial asset to back it," Hampson continued.

"The bank are now saying 'we will not go any further - we need prudent and sustainable management', and this is what I am hoping to deliver."

Worcester City's Supporters Trust is to hold an open meeting in the club's Harry Knowles Lounge immediately after Saturday's match with Bognor Regis at which Hampson will be fielding questions.