Funding saved Lincoln City youth set-up, says Travers

Travers is the director responsible for the Imps' youth department

Lincoln City vice-chairman Chris Travers says recent investment has saved the relegated club's youth set-up from folding.

Ex-Imps player Chris Moyses has put money into the team and will also take on a part-time coaching role.

Travers told BBC Lincolnshire: "The youth department could not be funded by the club in the current circumstances.

"It was one of the things which might have had to go, given the revised finances we're faced with."

He added: "There wasn't the money to be able to invest. If the youth department was to survive we had to try to get it to work on a stand-alone basis."

Lincoln have been seeking ways to make up for an estimated £500,000 loss in income following their relegation from League Two to the Blue Square Bet Premier.

But Travers, who is the director responsible for the the youth set-up which has produced the likes of Scott Loach and Jack Hobbs in recent seasons, denied that funding it was diverting money away from the first-team budget.

"There are people who have a specific focus on wanting to see the youth department survive," he said.

The restructuring process will see some casualties... who have done nothing wrong other than be working for a football club which has been relegated

Lincoln vice-chairman Chris Travers

"I don't think any revenue we've been able to attract is revenue which would otherwise have gone into the main club. It's come from people who have a specific or personal interest in the department.

"The most important thing now is for people to come forward and support the club in a wider sense because it's no good us having a youth department without a professional football club."

But Travers says he regrets that some members of staff may lose their jobs as the club is restructured to cut costs.

"Half a million pounds as a percentage of our overall turnover of £3m is a huge proportion. It has a wide ranging impact and it's the human side of the restructuring which we'll have to go forward with which is the most unpleasant aspect of it.

"The restructuring process will see some casualties who I believe are very good people who have done nothing wrong, other than be working for a football club which has been relegated, which they have had no direct influence on."

The club are to hold an open forum at Sincil Bank at 1930 BST on Thursday, 26 May in which supporters will be able to have their say on the Imps' plans for next season.

"Having done the initial work we now want to engage our fans in how they can play a part," said Travers.

"Pointing the finger and blaming people will get us nowhere. We want the city behind us and to do that we have to go into the meeting in a positive frame of mind and look to the future."