AFC TOTTON are ready to follow in Eastleigh’s footsteps by transforming from a members’ club to a limited company.

Wayne Mew, who stepped in as chairman just prior to Christmas when ill health forced Andy Straker to stand down, is convinced it is the only way to attract much-needed investment.

Club members have already given the plans the thumbs up and the Southern League and the Football Association have been informed.

Mew is happy to stay on as football club chairman and has spoken to Steve Brookwell and Pete Harding, directors of ground owners AFC Totton Leisure Limited, about setting up the limited company.

Mew explained: “When the previous regime resigned we weren’t financially destitute but it was obvious that increased funding was needed.

“But all the time Totton remained a members’ club, it was going to be difficult to entice in new investment.

“We felt the best way to go was to transfer from a members’ club to a limited company.

“We called a members’ meeting and they approved the motion and the timescale we’ve given the League and the FA is to have it done by the end of the season.

“The landlords are doing due diligence to see if they can come in and form the limited company for us.

“They’re looking through the accounts and myself and my wife Carolyn are sorting out all the finances. Hopefully, by the beginning of March, we can move things forward.

“We’re trying to ramp up use of the facilities on a daily basis and we’re beginning to operate more as a business so the club starts paying for itself.

“By becoming a limited company we will hopefully bring in more sponsorship. People won’t invest money if they’ve got no control over the club.

“We’re also trying to get the club’s name out in the community, sending out a monthly flier about what’s going on at AFC Totton.

“Not everyone’s on social media and a lot of people don’t even know we’ve got a function room here.

“We’re planning an open day and a sponsors’ day to get our name out there and ten members of our executive club have said they'll pay up for next season.”

While selling the ground to AFC Totton Leisure Ltd in the summer of 2014 helped wipe out a mountain of club debt, the Stags still have significant overheads at the Testwood Stadium.

“Things are tight and we’re having to make cutbacks to get us through,” said Mew.

“The best piece of advice anyone’s given me was Winchester City (ex-Eastleigh) chairman Paul Murray.

"He said: ‘Work out how much money you’ve got coming in – and spend a pound less!' ”

Meanwhile third-to-bottom Totton could do with a decent result at fellow strugglers Yate Town in the Southern One South & West on Saturday.

Wantage’s win over Barnstaple last weekend has shrunk the cushion between the Stags and the bottom-two to eight points.