THE future of AFC Totton is in jeopardy following the collapse of the consortium which was meant to usher in a bright, new era at the Testwood Stadium.

History was made last month when the 127-year-old club voted to dissolve its membership status in favour of becoming a limited company.

With players having gone unpaid since the turn of the year, it was felt the introduction of outside investors would help get the ailing Southern Premier Division outfit back on its feet financially.

But, according to Calvin Caunter, who was heading up the five-strong consortium, it had “all got very messy” behind the scenes and the potential investors felt the club had “too much baggage” to continue down the limited company route. Along with Caunter, the Stags’ vice-chairman (commercial) and director main sponsors Vision Accendo, the would-be consortium included former sponsor Jim Fallon, who was hit with a three-year ban by the Football Association earlier this month for breaching rules on player payment during his time as Havant & Waterlooville vice-chairman. Fallon has been suspended from “all football and football activities” until July 1, 2016 but, according to Caunter and Totton chairman Paul Wallace, that ban would not have precluded him from investing money into the club and had no bearing on the consortium’s demise.

Hinting at divisions behind the scenes, Caunter said: “Things were supposed to be coming through me, but people have been having secret meetings and it’s all got very messy.

“The club’s in a real bad situation and the consortium felt there was too much baggage and it was too much of a risk to continue.”

Caunter initially announced over the weekend that he and Vision Accendo – which ploughed over £25,000 into Totton last season - would be pulling out completely, stating: “I cannot continue to give my support as the situation has now become very stressful and is having an effect on my personal life.”

But, on reflection, he cannot stand by and watch the collapse of a club which, in 2007, played in front a 36,000-plus crowd at Wembley in the FA Vase final and, just 18 months ago, landed a £72,000 windfall for live BBC coverage of their FA Cup second round tie against Bristol Rovers. After clear-the-air talks with chairman Wallace, Caunter says it is likely the executive committee will go back to the membership and recommend Totton continues as a members’ club while further investment is sought.

“We’re crying out for help, but because the club’s in such a mess it’s not attracting anyone,” Caunter confessed.

“We need everyone who’s ever been involved with AFC Totton and who wants to see the club survive to get round the table together.

“But there’s a niche group of people at Totton wanting to hang onto their titles and, if it carries on like this, the club will be no more,” he warned.

“I’ve said to Paul (Wallace) let’s forget the past and work together for the good of the club.

“If they want me, I’m there, but the best thing in my opinion would be for someone else to come in and take the club over.”

Asked if Totton was in danger of going out of existence, chairman Wallace admitted: “There is potential for the club to go under, but there’s a lot of work going on on the supporters side of things to make sure it doesn’t.

“We’ve got a few bills to pay, nothing insurmountable, but our main debt is to the players.

“We’ve got to try and sort their wages out and go forward from there.”

With the FA aware of Totton’s players going unpaid, the fear is that the Southern League could place a transfer embargo on the club but, contrary to rumour, that has not so far happened.