MARK Harper admits his plans for Hampton & Richmond Borough next season will become lot clearer once he meets with chairman Steve McPherson.
The Beavers boss is awaiting a chat with the man who holds the purse strings following Hampton's relegation from Blue Square South.
He had anticipated meeting with him last week, but now expects it to take place this week, after which he can get back on the blower to his players and get some firm assurances.
Harper said: “We've not met yet as we've both been busy with various things, but everything seems pretty positive. All I need to do is nail down my budget and find out what the club's ambitions next season are.
“I have been trying to get in touch with as many of the players as I can, but any talks of their futures will be decided by the budget. I'm hoping to keep the ones I want to stay on the same sort of money.
“Talks with the players I have spoken to have been positive, but you can say that at this level of football, then find the following week that they have signed someone else. It's just lip service until you get a signature on a piece of paper.”
On the bright side, the club held its AGM last Monday, and figures showed that despite relegation, the financial state of the club is looking more positive than it has for a long time.
Although the club has had to cut its cloth accordingly since hitting a financial storm three years ago, the accounts showed it's annual loss had dropped for a third successive year, and there is every possibility they will move into the black by the end of the current accounting period.
On the pitch, it looks highly likely, although yet to be confirmed, that the Beavers will be placed in the Ryman Premier next season rather than the Southern Premier.
A final decision will be made in the coming weeks, but Wealdstone look likely to be moved across to the Southern League instead, with Harrow Borough next in line geographically before Hampton.
