Riddle of Saints' future as rumours fly

Speculation had been mounting among the local footballing fraternity that Tuesday night's Hastings Senior Cup win at Rye & Iden United would be the last in the club's 32 year history.

The club believes the rumours started when club closure was one of several options unofficially discussed between backroom staff and a couple of players in the wake of the 3-1 reverse against Southwick last Saturday.

A related item then appeared from an unknown source on the message board of the club's website on Monday although there was no official statement from the club. It was swiftly removed and the mesdsage board was temporarily closed down, which added fuel to the rumour-mongers' fire.

But both secretary Tony Leppard and chairman Andy Thomson revealed the club will continue to run.

Leppard said: "The club is definitely not going to fold and we're still battling on.

"It's an open secret that the club's got financial difficulties and has had for a long time. We've still got hanging over us all the problems we've had in the past. The sponsorship has not been coming in, the gates have been poor and facing a run of away games in October is a nightmare.

"It has been tough over the last couple of weeks and we need the help of the local community.

"If we had two, three or four extra volunteers it would make a hell of a difference.

"The situation now is a lot better than it was at Christmas and probably prior to that. The club has now got an operating structure in line with its income and I'm confident for the future.

"The decision (to hold the unofficial meeting after Saturday's game) was prompted by very few people feeling the burden of all the pressure and sitting and thinking is it all worth it? We had a run of three defeats, a poor crowd on Saturday and you think what's it all for?

"But we are doing it to provide a facility for people to come and watch and I don't want to see all the hard work we've put in go to waste."

He added that the club are hopeful of tying up a sponsorship deal with a local company "in the next few weeks" which will alleviate some of the problems.

Thomson commented: "The club will be there on Saturday and it will be there the week after that and the week after that.

"People put two and two together and make five but we're fighting on. The club is basically run by four people and there's too much hard work gone into this club by certain people to let it fold."

l The Rye & Iden result proved that the club is still alive and kicking and they will hope to collect three points at Sidlesham tomorrow (Saturday). Dean Thomas (hamstring) is doubtful while Phil Barber won't return until the FA Vase clash on October 18.