Winchester City's immediate future looks brighter after the emergence of a four-man consortium of local businessmen to help fund the club.

The group is headed by David Malone, the club's former benefactor, who returns once more as vice chairman and director of football.

Said Malone: "This time it won't be just me putting money into the club. We want to make progress both on and off the field and it's essential that we get out of the Wessex League this coming season.

"We want to engage closer with the business community in Winchester so that we can put the city on the football map."

Martin Moody, who operates a swimming pool business at Camberley, has taken over as chairman from Richard Newsome, who becomes president of the club.

The other new investors are 49-year-old Winchester-based property developer John Airey and Chris Parry, who runs his property business from Abu Dhabi.

All except Mr Parry were voted on to the club's committee at a special meeting of around 75 members held last week.

But he intends to move back to Winchester during the forthcoming season.

Mr Airey, who lives at Headbourne Worthy, watched City several times in the season just ended.

"They're a cracking team and it's such a shame that they didn't win promotion to the Ryman League," he told me.

"I won't be putting in a vast sum of money, but I have lots of ideas for fund raising.

"For example, a weekly Car Boot Sale at the ground should raise us about £500 a time.

"That's vital revenue for a club which badly needs to be able to stand on its own two feet.

The four men have undertaken to support the club for the whole of next season at least in order to bring financial stability.

Meanwhile, City have agreed a new 20 year lease with Winchester City Council for their ground at Abbotts Barton.

But the running track there will stay for use by the local athletics club on Thursday evenings.

Future plans include tarmacing the track in order to prevent it becoming a quagmire in the winter months.

Pre-season friendlies

Several attractive pre-season friendlies have been arranged, starting with the visit of AFC Bournemouth on Thursday July 14th (7.45pm) an away trip to Didcot Town two days later and the home clash with Eastleigh in the Hampshire Chronicle Cup on Sunday July 31st (3pm).

City travel to Basingstoke on August 2nd and efforts are being made to arrange a match against Aldershot, beaten last month by City in the final of the Hampshire Senior Cup.