GEORGE Rolls has promised vice-chairman Mark Coleman that he will leave Weymouth FC debt free and in positive hands the day his family decides to call time at the Bob Lucas Stadium.

Rolls is currently looking into a possible takeover of Kettering Town but Coleman is confident the Cambridge-based businessman will not leave the club high and dry if it comes off, with several interested parties already lining up in the background to succeed him at the Terras.

He told Echosport: “First of all I would like to say I am very proud to be a part of the club and the board of directors.

“We have got a fantastic group of people here who devote hours of their time and to be honest until I got involved I did not realise just how much they do.

“The management team of Brendon King and Matt Groves have also exceeded my expectations even though it was me that campaigned so hard to bring them in at the beginning.

“We are currently 11th in the table and had someone offered us that and the great run we had in the FA Trophy at the start of the season I think we would have bitten their hands off following several seasons of relegation battles.

“That is why we have offered them both five-year contracts in order to bring long-term stability and progress, which I know they can provide.

“It has also been great to see the team play with smiles on their faces, and with the new season-ticket initiative going well and sponsors committing themselves to next season as well, the outlook is good.

“Add to that the prospect of the club getting a new ground and there is no doubt an exciting future lies ahead.

“The board has not received anything official on that yet but it is going to happen and when plans are eventually drawn up it is something we can all look forward to.”

Going on to comment on Rolls and his ongoing links with the Poppies, Coleman added: “What people should always remember is that the only reason we still have a football club is because of George Rolls.

“It is okay for people to be negative now but three years ago when I got involved you could not hear those people and to be honest I think they are just making mischief.

“Had George not taken over when he did, in my opinion, we would be playing at Redlands now and no one wants that.

“As for the long-term future of Weymouth FC, he has stated to me he will leave the club debt free and in positive hands the day his family leaves.

“If I could find the funds and put together the right people I would take the club over myself but at the moment that is not possible.

“George wants to leave the club in the hands of the community and I would back that. He has always been consistent with me and has always said if something came along that took his fancy I would be the first to know.

“I also believe he would be an asset to any business.

“There are not many people like him who are willing to take tough measures and if he ends up going to Kettering then good luck to him and I shall carry on my work here.

“Ninety-nine per cent of the people that come to the games love it and tell us to keep up the good work and that is the reason why we keep going.

“We are in difficult financial times at present and because of that the club has to guard every single penny.

“Certain people might not like that fact but it is what we have to do to keep the club moving forward.”