Planning for next season? It's virtually impossible, says Bognor boss

Bognor score at Horsham in this season's final game - but which of the players on duty will be in a Rocks shirt for 2020-21? Picture: Tommy McMillan

Like non-league clubs across the country, Bognor simply don’t know when they will be playing games again – and have no idea how their finances will look once the lockdown is over and when sport resumes.

Bognor are spending money on major ground improvements and admit that’s likely to leave them with no more cash reserves.

And that means the playing budget in 2020-21 will have to be carefully managed.

It’s a squeeze which is facing football clubs at all levels and manager Jack Pearce said there was no way he could make promises to players about next season and the budget.

“Everything’s on hold really,” he told the Observer.

“We are speaking to players we have had this season and saying we would like them back next season but that’s about all we can do.

“No-one has a clue about the future – no-one in football, from top to bottom.

“We don’t know how long it will be before we can open up the ground again to paying fans and we don’t know how income from sponsorship will be affected.

“We are going ahead with necessary ground improvements and are fortunate that the club has been very well-managed financially over a long period.

“But we won’t have spare money in the bank after this and will no doubt be living hand to mouth for some time.

“Players will have to realise we can’t start making promises about money that we don’t have.”

Bognor have been pleased to receive some financial backing towards the ground improvements – which will see a new grandstand, covered clubhouse end and toilets, upgraded floodlights and a better sound system – but stress that they still need to raise more funds.

Ex-players have been among those to pitch in.

One former Rocks player, who wishes to remain anonymous, has donated £1,000 to the cause.

Fans who would like to contribute to the Rocks can do so in two ways - by using funding page at https://gogetfunding.com/rocks-development/ or by direct bank transfer to sort code: 20-20-62 – account number 40181072 – reference: Donation Ground Fund.

Get the latest from Nyewood Lane at bognor.co.uk