Chairman Andy Spice says Sittingbourne Football Club will fold this summer unless someone steps in to take over from him.

The Brickies chairman has spent 13 years helping keep the club afloat but insists this will be his last campaign at the helm, even if it means the last season of the club's existence.

He said: "We desperately need new people, new ideas - fresh blood, really. New people with new friends, new faces and new contacts books.

"I've been saying this for a couple of years but I can only do it for so long.

"Hopefully there are people out there who will be able to step in. People have to ask themselves if they want a senior football team in Sittingbourne."

He added: "I will be stepping down after this season and if nobody comes in to take over by July 1, then the club will fold."

Mr Spice revealed the club's debt has been reduced from £240,000 13 years ago to a current level of £20,000 but he said this week's move to stop paying players and staff would keep the club going until the end of the season when they should become debt-free.

He said: "By doing this now there is every chance the club will survive. If we had kept paying the players, the club might not have been here next season. Other clubs are in the same position as us but we don't want to allow anything to spiral. We don't owe money to the tax man or VAT.

"The question is do you run up debts like Folkestone and Welling or do you not put yourself in that position?"

Mr Spice also praised the staff and players who turned out on Monday to battle to a draw at Walton Casuals.

He said: "The response from everyone has been brilliant. I am sure that some people will leave, it is inevitable.

"Even if we do lose all our players then we'll look round for some who will play for nothing."