WHITBY Town Football Club has missed out on £15,000 of sponsorship due to the ill health of president Brooks Mileson, it has emerged.
But the Blues are launching a new patrons club in a bid to make up the shortfall.
Chairman Graham Manser told the Gazette this week: "Our club president and main sponsor Brooks is still very ill and unconfirmed reports suggest he has great difficult
y talking and is still having epileptic fits.
"We wish Brooks a speedy recovery and we must thank him most sincerely for all his financial backing over the past 16 years, without which the club would not be the force it is in non-league football. Nor would it be so high up the non-league pyramid.
"The club does not rely on Brooks' sponsorship for financial survival but we have not received the sponsorship monies which has placed the club in a poor financial position."
In the new patron's club, members would be entitled to free admission to all home matches with designated seats in the new stand, incorporating complimentary hospitality in the board room before, during and after the game.
Travel to away matches is also included in the package and the total cost is £500 per season which would be acknowledged in the match programme.
The Blues are also seeking new sponsors for the coming season which includes everything from home and away strips, advertising boards, player sponsorship and the junior teams.
Mr Manser yesterday added: "It may be once Brooks recovers, not only might we receive the 2007/08 sponsor money but he might continue for next season.
"In the meantime we have to work on the principle he won't get much better; that's why we want sponsors and are trying to think of ideas to make up the shortfall.
"We hope he recovers as he's done an awful lot for this football club."
Call Mr Manser on (01947) 605921.
The full article contains 328 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
