ENDANGERED New Forest outfit Bashley WILL compete in the Southern League next season.

A group of four life vice-presidents are understood to have saved the financially stricken club from folding.

It is thought that Ray Pinney will team up with fellow ex-chairman Trevor Adams, Pat Bowering and June Breckon to save the 67-year-old club from extinction.

Chairman Mike Cranidge politely declined to identify the “two or three” members set to join Bashley’s executive or the “five or six members” who have pledged funds to keep Bash going just days after a three-strong consortium – headed by former AFC Totton official Nick Ferguson – withdrew their interest.

An official club statement released by Claridge explained: “Following the provision of an affordable budget for 2014/15, a process is now under way to fill vacant executive positions from within the club and, thanks to the success of our money-raising activities, funding is now in place.

“As the criteria of the resolution passed at the recent EGM are now being met, I am delighted to inform you that Bashley FC will continue to function as a football club and as a member of the Southern League.”

Cranidge added: “The budget will be based on income, one or two good commercial interests and we also have members who are willing to put in small, but regular, amounts to help us along.”