Rushden & Diamonds bought by ex-Weymouth chief

Former Weymouth Town chief executive Gary Calder has become the new owner of Rushden & Diamonds, and given his backing to boss Justin Edinburgh.

Calder succeeds chairman Keith Cousins, who took over in 2006 from a supporters' trust and has now quit the club, reportedly writing off his loans.

Calder told BBC Radio Northampton: "We'll be supporting Justin Edinburgh.

"We've got total confidence in him and we've already had discussions about an extension of his contract."

It has not been made public how much the club was sold for.

Edinburgh said he was delighted at the prospect of having funds to spend in the January transfer window, although he is warning fans not to expect an outlay similar to some other clubs in the Blue Square Bet Premier.

"This can push us on, and although it's not a Crawley Town situation and won't let us compete [financially] with Luton, hopefully come January we can add to the squad.

"No one will take my players on the cheap, so it's good for the fans and good for myself that, going into the Christmas period, we won't be selling but buying."

Striker Rene Howe, on loan at Nene Park from Peterborough, has already stated he does not intend to return to London Road.

"Rene has been a good player for us so far and I think he likes being here," said Edinburgh.

"I want all our best players to stay here, as well as one or two others to strengthen the squad, to give us that push to get a place in the play-offs again."

We're quite sure that in two or three years we'll be in the Football League

Vice-chairman Helen Thompson

Helen Thompson, who will remain as vice-chairman alongside new appointment Liam Beasant said: "Keith Cousins has done a fantastic job in guiding us [in the past five years].

"I'm very proud to say that we are in a healthy financial situation, and this is an exciting time for us.

"With the new investor coming in, we're quite sure that in two or three years we'll be in the Football League."

Calder, who briefly took charge of first-team affairs at Weymouth in 2007, left in 2009. The financially-stricken Dorset club was relegated from the top-flight of non-league football at the end of the 2008/09 season and currently plays in the Southern League.