Braintree Town to seek new investment following relegation from the National League

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Braintree Town are seeking new investment following their relegation from the National League as the club looks to rebuild after a difficult campaign.

The Iron’s drop was confirmed in April after a goalless draw with Woking, ending their two-year stay in Non-League’s top tier.

Braintree have struggled on the pitch this season, winning just eight of their 45 league matches.

Off it, the challenges have been just as tough, with chairman Lee Harding admitting earlier this month the club has had to compete against teams with “income streams 10, 15, 20 times” greater than their own.

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Investment

A club statement confirmed the board believe now is the right time to bring in fresh backing to help “consolidate and push forward in the future”.

The statement read: “The club’s board of directors have decided that now is the right time to seek fresh and additional investment into the club to help consolidate and push forward in the future.

“Following the death of former director Kim Cowell last summer and the subsequent resignation of director Alan Stuckey last month, the club’s board of directors are now just two: Lee Harding (who joined the board in 2003) and Vic Dixon (who joined the following year) and, while they continue to work hard and as best they can to support the club, the workload on the shoulders of these two volunteers is obviously more intense than the six man board that took the club to the play-offs for promotion to the Football League ten years ago.

“Both Dixon and Harding are happy to remain involved with the club as directors, sponsors, or just supporters and both look forward to helping the club build on the progress made in the last 24 years.”

Target

Harding added: “From the bottom of the Isthmian League to the play-offs for promotion to the Football League, it’s been an exhilarating ride and we look forward to the future with expectation.

“We’re all disappointed with relegation this season, but we’ve been here before, and the minimum target for next season will be a play-off spot, and we’ve won a few of those!”

Before then, Steve Pitt’s side have one final game of the season to navigate away at Tamworth this Saturday.

Braintree almost handed Rochdale a cruel twist in their pursuit of promotion to the EFL at the weekend, as substitute John Akinde’s stoppage-time equaliser threatened to spark celebrations in North Yorkshire.

But York City hearts were broken moments later, as their players gathered following a 3-0 win over Yeovil Town to learn Emmanuel Dieseruvwe had struck in the final minute.

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READ MORE: Braintree Town 1-2 Rochdale: Magic Mani Dieseruvwe leaves it late