BUSINESSMAN Stuart Handley has been speaking out about the lessons to be learnt from the disappointing launch of the rival to the National Lottery, Monday.

A month after champagne corks popped at its launch, the 37-year-old director of communications for Chariot UK said: "This is a fightback story."

The former pupil at Canterbury's Archbishop’s and Chaucer schools, admitted: "It’s been a bruising couple of weeks.

"But we have money, we have focus, and although we are clearly disappointed our sales are not as we expected, we have a new marketing plan."

Chariot UK has received new financial backing after sales from its online game failed to meet expectations.

Mr Handleym explained: "We remain committed and excited by the Monday lottery concept.

"We have already raised more than £690,000 for charity in just six weeks – and this is all new money the charities would not have had otherwise.

"I couldn’t be more excited about the future; we are on to something really good and worth backing."

The Monday lottery has already paid out more than £1million in prizes.