Paul Bowden-Brown, chairman of cash-strapped Maidstone, vowed to fight on and not give in during a frank and forthright assessment of the club’s future prospects at Wednesday night’s meeting with supporters.

More than 150 fans, who attended the meeting in Bearsted, were told the club, which is up for sale, need £32,000 to complete the season while only a staggering £740,000 would get the proposed move to a purpose built stadium at Whatman Way back on the drawing board.

Despite the financial enormity of the task, Mr Bowden-Brown said he had been heartened by the response of supporters and players as the club head into a New Year with its very survival being questioned.

Investor Oliver Ash, who purchased a 25 per cent stake in the club worth £100,000 in February, is unable to inject further money after the Football Foundation rejected Stones’ application for stadium funding. Should he call back his investment, the club’s future would be in jeopardy.

“Our supporters wanted the facts which I gave to them,” said Mr Bowden-Brown. “I would like to think it was a reality check because we’re not the big boys we once were.

“There is not a financial benefactor wanting to help so the priority is to secure a short-term fix that will help us see out the season.

“The response from supporters was extremely positive, but as Bill Williams told them, the time for talking has passed, now is the time for action.”

Mr Bowden-Brown ruled out taking the club into admistration.