BANBURY United chairman Kim Dumbleton has hit out at supporters planning to boycott the club’s match at home to Bashley on Saturday, writes MATTHEW BRUCE.

The Puritans’ record-equalling run of nine straight defeats in the Calor League Premier Division has left fans angry.

And some have said they’ll stay away in protest and watch Easington Sports’ Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 1 West fixture against Malmesbury Victoria this weekend instead.

“These are the same fans who want us to get into debt by spending money on players when we can’t afford to,” said Dumbleton.

“There are a group of about six or seven who’ve been wanting to own the club for about ten years now.

“They’re the same people who always speak up every time things go wrong, but when everything is going well, as it was earlier this season, you don’t hear from them.”

A number of senior players have left since the turn of the year, resulting in the side’s recent downturn in form.

And although Banbury plan to rebuild next season, Dumbleton said the playing budget had to be slashed this term for the good of the club.

“Do we just allow the club to get itself into debt or do we play the reserve players in an attempt to get the situation under control?” he asked.

“We weren’t going to go up and the play-offs were beyond our reach, so we had to do it because there was a possibility that the club wouldn’t even start next season at all.

“If you haven’t got enough money coming in, then you have to trim things back.

“For the rest of this season we will be playing reserve players and young players who are coming through and are happy to play for £20 plus expenses.”