WEYMOUTH chairman Paul Maitland believes the Terras’ four-figure donation to Torquay United serves to publicise financial struggles for some clubs in non-League football.

Torquay have been slapped with a 10-point deduction for submitting their intention to enter administration.

In response, Weymouth generously donated £5 from every away adult ticket sale from their home match with Torquay earlier this month, the Terras handing over £2,705.29 to the Gulls’ official supporters’ trust.

That included £2,370 from gate receipts, £253.93 from a bucket collection and £81.36 from badge sales.

Torquay United Supporters’ Trust then rounded the figure up to £3,000 taking the total donations received by the Plainmoor outfit to £19,248.65 at the time of writing.

READ MORE: Torquay United drop to 17th after 10-point deduction

And Maitland feels Weymouth’s kind gesture can raise awareness of the financial strain some clubs in the National League System are under.

He told Echosport: “It’s a good exercise all round. Hopefully that helps to pay their staff wages.

“The PFA (Professional Footballers’ Association) will step in with the players that are members, they’ll be OK.

“But there’s a lot of other people that work in the background that are paid staff. They’ve got to think about their livelihoods, because everybody’s got bills to pay.

“People need money to live and survive. If that bit of money helps to do that, it was definitely worth it and a good outcome.

“More importantly, it’s helped to publicise the problems that are in non-League football with finance.

“Every day, you pick up a paper and you see another statement from a club saying how they’re suffering with money.

“This year, with the inclement weather, that’s really hurt a lot of clubs. You’ve only got to look at Taunton, they’ve barely kicked a ball at home. Truro are spending a lot of money playing elsewhere.

“Other clubs are in that position where they’re going to have to play at other grounds to fulfil fixtures. It’s an expensive environment for people to try and compete in.

“For me, it’s as much raising awareness of those negativities. Yes, we want to show some solidarity with Torquay, but also to the wider football world that non-League does need some help from other quarters.”

Maitland went on to highlight how football clubs are for many fans a way of life.

“They’re more than football clubs, it’s a place where you to go to socialise, where you meet with your friends,” he added.

“Some people don’t see a lot of other people during the week. I can say that for myself. I live on my own, and with my children, but sometimes because of my business I don’t necessarily see people every day.

“Going to football gives me that social interaction sometimes that I would miss otherwise. If you start to lose clubs, particularly at grassroots level, it’s the knock-on effect not just for players, but for supporters.

“It’s just awakening the fact that we have to try and protect our non-league clubs the best we can.”

Weymouth next host Braintree Town on Saturday (3pm).