Forest Green fans relaunch scheme

Last updated : 13 July 2010 By BBC Sport

The Forest Green Rovers supporters trust is re-launching its scheme to try and increase the club's playing budget.Any money donated to the GRASS (Give Regularly to Assist Squad Sponsorship) fundraiser is ring-fenced and can only be spent on players wages.

"We would be trying to work to a target of £2,000 a month," trust chairman Tim Barnard told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"That would be either one really good player, a couple of decent part-time players or other combinations."

He added: "we want to do it quickly so that [manager] David [Hockaday] would still have time to shop around and look for more players."

Hockaday has so far recruited 13 players, with that number set to be boosted by academy players and possibly one or two extra additions.

However, his budget is restricted as the club has cut its costs as it looks to pay off its debts and get back to a more stable footing.

Barnard insists that is being sorted out, but feels the playing budget just needs a boost.

"The reason that the playing budget is low is that we have a historic debt, the businesses are now trading profitably," he said.

"The future will be bright providing we get investment to pay off some of the debt but in the meantime we all need to club together this season and get David Hockaday two more players."

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport