Relegated Braintree seek new investment

Braintree Town are seeking fresh investment following confirmation of their relegation from the National League.

They have been in the top flight of non-league football for the past two campaigns but have won only eight out of 45 games this season.

Chairman Lee Harding said earlier this month that The Iron were having to compete against clubs with up to 20 times their revenue.

A club statement said new investment was needed to help Braintree "consolidate and push forward in the future".

The statement continued: "Following the death of former director Kim Cowell last summer and the subsequent resignation of director Alan Stuckey last month, the club's Board of Directors are now just two, Lee Harding (who joined the board in 2003) and Vic Dixon (who joined the following year).

"While they continue to work hard and as best they can to support the club, the workload on the shoulders of these two volunteers is obviously more intense than the six-man board that took the club to the play-offs for promotion to the Football League 10 years ago."

• 'Football clubs we were up against earn 20 times more'

Both Harding and Dixon are content to remain with the club in whatever role is thought best when new backers are found.

Harding said: "From the bottom of the Isthmian League to the play-offs for promotion to the Football League, it's been an exhilarating ride and we look forward to the future with expectation.

"We're all disappointed with relegation this season but we've been here before and the minimum target for next season will be a play-off spot and we've won a few of those."

Steve Pitt's side play their final game of the season away to Tamworth on Saturday.