Hayes & Yeading United chairman Tony O’Driscoll believes the cash-strapped club can survive and has set a deadline of February 12 for raising the £300,000 needed to keep them afloat.
The eye-watering sum needed to stave off extinction was revealed in November as United neared breaking point due to crippling ground-share fees and mounting building costs at their proposed future home in Beaconsfield Road.
Getting back to the borough is vital to the club’s plans but work will not resume on the incomplete stadium – which must meet National Ground Grading Category B standard – allowing the team to start playing there, until the full amount is secured.
The Gazette understands a significant new financial backer is close to agreeing to come on board and O’Driscoll is cautiously optimistic the Conference South outfit, who came from behind to draw 2-2 at Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday, will ride out the storm.
“We’ve got a number of people who are prepared to put some money in but, at the moment, that doesn’t reach the £300,000,” O’Driscoll explained. “I’m not going to start spending any money at the moment though, I’m waiting to get the full amount and then I can start confirming we will survive. We’re still talking to a number of people but nothing has been finalised.
“People won’t be able to see the progress that we’ve made at the moment. I can only tell people what might be happening.
“We’ve got a supporters’ meeting on February 12 and I need to have it [the funding] in place by then, otherwise it’s going to be too late.
“We’re managing to scrape together the money each week to keep us going. I’m confident it can been done.”
O’Driscoll is grateful to Hayes & Yeading supporters for helping to generate new funds in novel ways, such as selling computer games and organising a charity bike ride – which will be attended by manager Phil Babb – to this weekend’s game with Havant & Waterlooville.
“As far as the supporters are concerned, they’ve been absolutely fantastic,” O’Driscoll added.
“We’ve had quite a few donations which has been fantastic. That has helped out massively.
“It has helped us pay the wages more easily than we would’ve done.
“They’ve got a bike ride from Beaconsfield Road going on for this Sunday’s game at Maidenhead. Phil [Babb] and Tristan [Lewis, assistant manager] will both be going on it with them as well.”
To make a donation to the Hayes & Yeading survival push for Saturday’s charity bike ride, visit www.sport funder.com/projects/1539. If you can help boost the club’s finances, or are interested in sponsorship, visit www.hyufc.com, where contact details can be found.
