SUPPORTERS of East Thurrock United have been told its owner will contribute £2 million to secure its future and build a new ground.

The club's future had appeared in jeopardy after the death of long time club stalwart Ben Bennett, whose daughter Dominique is the sole owner.

The club's long-serving and successful manager John Coventry announced last week that he was quitting at the end of the season and it is likely that all the club's officials and volunteers will stand down as well.

Mr Coventry described the recent situation at the club and the incumbent financial pressures as 'horrendous'.

That led to a supporters' meeting at the club last night which drew around 40 people.

It was opened by club founder Terry Keating who introduced well-known footballing figure Colin McBride as the man appointed by the Bennett family to guide the club through its crisis.

He outlined the current situation and stressed the Bennett family wished the club to continue and said that Mr Bennett's family had committed to a gift of £2 million to ensure its future once the sale of the current Rookery Hill ground for possible housing development had been completed.

He said the club would be staying at Rookery Hill for the next two years at least and urged people to come forward to support a new chairman and secretary, who he said had already offered their services.

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After the meeting the club issued the following statement: "At tonight's open meeting a large number of people came forward to offer their services to fill admin roles to enable the club to continue into the 2020-21 season.

"Some to fill key roles, and others who were willing to carry out various matchday duties.

"More details will follow once a formal meeting has taken place, but this number includes people with considerable previous football admin experience.

"Colin McBride, speaking on behalf of the Bennett family, informed the meeting that the Rookery Hill site is in the process of being sold, but that the club was expected to have use of the ground into the 2021-22 season at least.

"The plan would then be to re-locate to a new ground within the local catchment area, with money made available from the sale proceeds."