Saints launch last ditch survival bid

The Sussex League club has to find a saviour to put together some sort of financial rescue package before facing a winding-up petition by Customs and Excise in the High Court in Liverpool at 10am on Monday February 2. If no-one comes forward by deadline the Saints will cease to exist.

Chairman Andy Thomson realises the odds are stacked against the club winning the biggest match in its 33-year history but is hoping against hope that someone will step in at the 11th hour.

"I hope for the club's sake there is someone out there," he said. "It's a simple thing - either someone comes in or someone doesn't come in. If they don't it goes and if they do then great, but something has got to happen really quickly."

The club, which has taken the decision to suspend all operating activities, is in debt to the tune of around 30,000 but 18,000 of that is an outstanding VAT demand which needs to be paid off immediately.

If the money could be found Thomson believes St Leonards would be in a far healthier position than 75 per cent of Non-League football clubs because it still has another 20-odd years remaining on its lease at The Firs.

"Tony Leppard (club secretary) and myself have taken it as far as we can, it's worn us down, but we've got it to a stage where it's controllable," explained Thomson. "If someone wants to come in now and push it on a little bit further it's not going to cost them a fortune. Short-term it would probably cost them 18,000 but that would leave not a lot of debt and give them a great chance to build the club back up."

St Leonards originated as a works team in 1971 but it was the money and dynamism of chairman Leon Shepperdson which guided the club through the leagues to the dizzy heights of the Dr Martens Premier - one step down from the Conference. During its heyday in the 90s the club attracted ex-professionals such as Steve Gatting, Brian McDermott, Jimmy Gilligan and Gary Chivers, as well as the likes of future Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Sasa Ilic.

"If St Leonards goes I think it would be a major thing for this town," Thomson went on. "I feel very bitter that over the years so much money has gone into the football club and I can't believe people are going to let it go. I'm not having a go at anyone but I find it amazing. If you look at it now it's not a massive amount of money and the whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

He added: "I'm a Hastings person, I've managed St Leonards, I've run it, I've done it all - even cleaned the boot room, but I get very sad when I look along the road to see Eastbourne Borough doing so well and us not. I don't want to go to Eastbourne, I don't want to see Eastbourne doing well, I want to see Hastings doing well. I don't want to go 25 miles to watch a game of football but that's what it's going to come down to if we are not careful."

Anyone interested in saving the club can contact Thomson on (07971) 876207 or Leppard on (07711) 147299.