BROMLEY FC owner Jeremy Dolke has appealed for help from supporters after the big freeze plunged the Lillywhites into a financial crisis.

The Conference South side may sit second in the table but they haven’t played a home game since a 2-2 draw with Woking on November 9.

They are due to host Maidenhead tonight (7.45pm) but the recent cold weather has had a huge impact, with My Dolke admitting players may be released.

He said: “Losing our Boxing Day game was a massive blow to the club.

“Financially this, combined with significant decreases in other revenue streams due to the terrible weather, has almost crippled the club.

“The Saturday morning soccer school and after school clubs have had to be cancelled, bar takings at functions have been greatly reduced due to less guests attending and a higher proportion of those choosing to drive.

“We have had to cancel many of the bookings on the five and six a side courts.”

Mr Dolke added: “We started this season with a contingency fund in place to cover six weeks wages.

“Early exits in cup competitions left us unable to add to this pot of money and it has now almost exhausted.

“The players are owed a week’s wages and by the time the Bishop’s Stortford game comes around it will be two.

“We have a great group of lads at the club but at this time of year I cannot honestly ask them to stay with us without being paid when they could be earning money elsewhere.

“I have a family so I know that it would not just be the players themselves who would be affected.”

Bromley’s financial woes have not been helped by a recent break in at Hayes Lane, as Mr Dolke explained.

“As many of you know, we suffered a burglary at the beginning of the month,” he said.

“Extensive damage was done to both the Sports Bar and the Glemnet Suite, as well as other parts of the ground, and assorted items were stolen.

“Insurance claims are ongoing but in the meantime I have had to reach into my own pocket to pay for repairs and replacements and so I cannot do so again to maintain the playing budget.

“What the club desperately needs is a small injunction of funds between now and the end of the year.

“I am therefore making a plea to all Bromley supporters for any fundraising suggestions that they may have.

“We do not need tens of thousands of pounds, we just need enough to see us through the next month or so without losing the great squad that we have worked so hard to assemble.

“Clearly of course, were we to be able to raise more money than is needed in the near future, we would be able to use it to strengthen our bid to finish in the top five but that is not the immediate priority.”

If you have any suggestions, please email jerry@bromleyfc.co.uk