Herne Bay have revealed that the decision to free Jake Embery from his contract was driven by financial necessity.

They have also defended Embery's father John, explaining that he and co manager Jermaine Darlington warned that taking players off contracts could lead to the club losing them.

Jake Embery completed his move to National League Maidstone on Tuesday, days after Tom Carlton had joined Bay's Bostik South East rivals Hythe for a small fee.

A statement issued on Thursday afternoon by the club's directors revealed that two of the board had been putting 'significant' funds into the club to ensure its survival but the pair were were no longer able to do so.

The statement followed a meeting between board and management on Wednesday.

It said: "It must be made clear that recent decisions in respect of the club's playing staff have been made necessary due to the critical financial position that the club presently finds itself in.

"A decision had recently been made by the directors to reduce the club's playing staff outgoings, specifically in respect of the players on contract, and the budget allowances for the non contract players.

"Tom Carlton's and Jake Embery's contract expenses were amongst the highest on the playing staff and therefore players that we needed to reduce in order to continue to pay expenses to the other contract, and the non contract players.

"We managed to do a deal with Hythe Town FC for Tom Carlton, and negotiated with Jake Embery to be taken off contract, and to play for free until finances improved.

"Both John Embery and Jermaine Darlington stated that once players were off contract we run the risk of losing them, a risk the directors thought was necessary to take to ensure the survival of the club, and the retention of the remaining players.

"It was clear that Maidstone United FC were willing to wait until the end of the season for Jake Embery to avoid paying a fee to the club. It was a bonus for them to get him early as the agent took advantage of the situation the club found itself in."

The statement revealed that even in the wake of the recent budget cuts the club's future remains threatened.

It carried on:"It is a fact that if no effort had been made to reduce the club's expenditure there was a serious possibility that the club would not have been able to see the current season out.

"The position is that, even with some of the economies that have been introduced, both on the playing side and on the administrative side, there is still a danger that the club will only be able to continue in existence if a serious review of the future income and expenditure is carried out."

Jake's father John has been subject to abuse on social media following his son's departure but the club say any criticism of him is totally unjustified.

The statement added: "The directors would also like to make it clear that they believe there has been no wrong doing on the part of the management team, particularly John Embery.

"If we had sufficient funds to keep players on contract then Jake would have remained until the end of season, or would have been released only on terms that were beneficial to the club.

"There has been a lot of personal abuse towards John Embery on social media that is totally unwarranted, and unacceptable in the circumstances.

"The club has a very important match on Saturday (at home to Whitstable), and it is imperative that club officials, management, players and supporters alike can focus on this and achieving a positive performance and result."