WHEN 2015 dawned, Folland Sports had high hopes of gate-crashing the Sydenhams Premier Division title fight.

But a host of headaches on and off the pitch means the best they can probably hope for now is top six.

The loss of charismatic boss Danny Bowers and the imminent departure of his successor Dave Lewis and the entire coaching team has been hard enough to deal with.

But now the club, founded in 1938 for the workers of aircraft factory in Hamble-Le-Rice, faces an uncertain future with the American parent company GE Aviation considering closing down the social club on the Kings Avenue site.

“It’s an ongoing issue,” confirmed Follands chairman Adrian Stremel.

“We’ve got a stay of execution for approximately one year, but no one knows what will happen to the social club after that.

“There’s still a lot of talking going on involving ourselves, the bowls and cricket people. The social club itself might be trying for a five-year lease, but it’s very hard communicating with the company.”

Follands will remain members of the Sydenhams League next season and are on the lookout for a new team manager.

“We need someone with experience and player contacts,” said Stremel.

“Hopefully a lot of the current players will stay, but it’s pie-in-the-sky at the moment with everything that’s going on.”

Since stepping up from his assistant manager’s role earlier this year, Lewis has had his work cut out steering the side through choppy waters.

Philosophical Asked to sum up the mood of the players, he said: “Everyone’s philosophical.

“We’ve had a real struggle to get a midweek team out because of injuries, suspensions and Ryan Long and Jamie Barron both working.

“We had seven players out for Newport away last week and I was No12 myself, but everyone was in the trenches battling for the cause.

“We had four or five back for the Alresford game last Saturday and it was with a heavy heart that I changed the side because the players who travelled to Newport did an immense job playing more than half the game with ten men after James Roden had been sent off.

“Everyone knows the management team is out-going and the players will be considering their futures.

“Some will follow Danny and myself out, some will go on to bigger and better things and some will be asking who the next manager is going to be and can I stay.

“At the moment everyone’s sticking together. At the end of the day, it’s all about personal enjoyment and if someone puts a ball in front of you, you go out and play.”

Follands, ninth in the Sydenhams Premier, now have three successive home games against Horndean tomorrow (3pm), Blackfield & Langley next Tuesday (7.45pm) and Fawley AFC on April 18.

Anyone wanting to speak to discuss the manager’s job for next season can ring Stremel on 07830 312696.