BRIDGWATER Town manager Richard Fey says the club is now in a stricken financial position following the settling of a number of unpaid debts at Fairfax Park and is now urging local companies to come aboard and provide much needed sponsorship.

The club’s financial situation came to light at the club’s AGM in May when debts of nearly £12,000 were revealed to supporters.

The club has since had to cut the wage bill in half from last season, leading to a mass exodus from Fairfax Park and leaving Fey with a depleted squad for next season.

The Robins finished in 14th place in Calor League South & West last season – their highest finish for four years – but Fey now believes he faces a huge challenge to keep the club in the division when the new campaign gets underway in August.

Fey said: “Next season is going to be hard for the club on and off the pitch. Finances are really bad and the club’s in debt.

“If it wasn’t for Johnson Metals being the main sponsor there wouldn’t be a football club here. I’ve been told the club has debts from previous years and it has forced the club to halve the wage bill from last season.

“This has unfortunately cost us a lot of players from last season, and I’m trying to beg steal and borrow this season to get through it and keep the club in this division.

“The AGM meeting in May was a big eye opener for everybody in attendance.

“We’re trying to find sponsors to help pay certain players’ wages and I’ve also invited young lads from our under-18s to pre-season training as well as local lads who want to prove themselves at this level.

“When I joined the club we had a threeyear plan to get out of this division, but that has to be put on hold until we get ourselves out of this mess.”

Fey insists he has no intention of leaving Bridgwater Town and says everything possible will be done to ensure that the club survives relegation next season.

He said: “I don’t want to jump ship as this is a great club and gave me the chance to manage at this level, which is why I signed a contract last season as I believe we can one day get out of this league, so I want to do everything I can to help the club out of this mess, but it’s going to be very hard and if we finish anywhere near last season’s final position it will be a great achievement.”