DORCHESTER Town Community Trust chairman John Greenslade has issued a rallying call for additional support to help his organisation’s long-term aim of making the Magpies a community-owned club.

Greenslade, pictured, who admits it “continues to be challenging to sustain the club financially”, is keen for more businesses and individuals to get on board at the Avenue.

The trust is a joint majority shareholder in the club along with former chairman Shaun Hearn following a share transfer last May.

In a statement, Greenslade said: “The Dorchester Lottery has been promoted and expanded and this is now an important income stream for the club.

“The club is also raffling a car this year through its partnership with Heritage of Dorchester.

“So, although it continues to be challenging to sustain the club financially, it has not been for want of effort, drive and commitment.

“However, a great deal more is required if the club is to flourish on and off the pitch.

“More money is needed and people can make a big difference by supporting fundraising events, attending the games, joining the Dorchester Lottery, buying car raffle tickets, sponsoring players and generally investing in the club’s future.

“The club is fortunate in having a core of supportive businesses who invest in the club’s sponsorship packages.

“However, more businesses need to follow their example.

“The club needs to increase its income by whatever sustainable means it can, and the trust board encourages other partners, who are prepared to at least match the trust and Dorchester Town Youth’s investment in the club, to get involved.”

Greenslade added that the trust, Dorchester Town Youth and the Supporters’ Club had made “significant financial contributions” to the club’s budget since last May.

“The trust board’s long-term aim remains community ownership of the club with wider community access to its facilities and opportunities for grant funding which privately-owned clubs are not eligible for,” he continued.

“This will ideally need the agreement of a majority of the shareholders and the transfer of shares.”

*To read the statement in full, go to dtfcct.org.uk/news