The future of Gillingham Women is in the balance on the eve of the new season.

Owner and chairman Josh Oatham has stated he fears "for the club's existence" if a new buyer is not found by the end of this month.

Oatham has been in sole charge of Gillingham Women for the past two years after Gillingham Football Club's decision to no longer fund the women's section.

He's been in talks to potential new owners over the close season but no deal has been agreed - so has issued a public appeal to ensure the club can keep going.

"I would like announce that I have come to the decision to step down as Owner and Chairman of Gillingham Women Football Club at the end of August," said Oatham.

"The club is now seeking an external person/party to take over all ownership responsibilities for the football club. If a new owner is not found in the coming weeks, I fear for the club's existence going forward.

"In 2020, following Gillingham Football Club's decision to no longer fund and support the women's section, I was faced with a situation where if I did not take on the sole responsibility for the club, it would have disbanded.

"My intentions since then have been to stabilise the team both on and off the field, to make it an attractive proposition for someone to then take over and continue to drive the club forward. Following one of the most successful seasons in the club's 27-year history, I feel this has been achieved.

"This decision has been difficult to make, but it has been made for both personal and financial reasons, as I feel I have taken the club as far as I can.

"The club needs resources, in terms of time and funding that I can no longer provide.

"Since the end of last season, with the hope of getting this resolved prior to the start of the 22/23 campaign, I have been actively speaking to various potential parties regarding ownership of the club. Unfortunately, as it stands, an agreement has yet to materialise.

"Therefore, I have been left with little choice than to release this statement in the hope that new parties come forward, to continue the great work of the players and staff, building on the successes of last season.

"I have informed the players and staff of my decision and would like to thank them for their full support at this time. During my time at the club, they have been exceptional and if it wasn't for this group, this decision would have been a much easier one to make.

"Finally, this is a special football club that is proud to represent Kent in the third tier of the women's game, one league below the professional Barclays Championship. Accompany this with the increasing attention on the women's game, which has been further driven by the success of the Lionesses this summer, I feel this is an exciting project for the right person/party to take forward.

"The club will continue to operate as it has done previously, in the short term, and I will release a further statement with an update regarding the matter in due course."

Interested parties can email Oatham at josh.oatham@gillinghamwomenfc.co.uk.

The club played their home games at Rochester United last season but have relocated to Sporting Club Thamesmead for the new campaign.

Their first Southern Premier league game of the season is this Sunday away to Watford.