CHINNOR have asked members to make donations as they attempt to raise £25,000 for essential maintenance through the summer.

In an open letter, chairman Simon Vickers says the club have lost out on "tens of thousands of pounds" in revenue following the enforced closure due to coronavirus.

The club missed out on the final three home games of the National League 1 season, which was cut short, while other fundraising events such as a sportsman's dinner and the end of season celebrations have been cancelled.

Following calculations from the RFU, the Thame-based side were awarded with a fourth-placed finish.

Chinnor were quick to cut their costs last month after the campaign was halted, with players paid for March but no further.

Vickers wrote: "We implemented quite strong measures that the board saw fit in the circumstances to reduce our ongoing cost base.

"Many other clubs are now starting to follow suit as they realise that survival is key."

But they still face a significant deficit, which it is hoped will be eased by donations from members.

"There is a plan in place to try to secure grants that will provide a sounder financial platform for when we do come out the other side," Vickers continued.

"We have taken the view that it is better to ask for donations rather than a forward purchase of membership and season tickets, as this just creates pressure at a later date.

"Therefore, we are asking for a donation of what you are able to afford and would like to contribute and we have set a target of £25,000, which would be an average of some £50 a member.

"By all means if you are able to contribute more, then that would be most welcome.

"As mentioned above, the donations would be used for essential maintenance and preparation of the clubhouse etc to give us a flying start and will go some way to replace the many tens of thousands of pounds of revenue lost due to the enforced closure."

When next season does get under way, the Chinnor chief hopes to have retained a core of the squad but expects budgets across the board will have fallen.

He wrote: "One thing for certain is that we will do our utmost to produce a squad that is more than capable of challenging in National League 1 albeit all clubs are accepting that our cost bases must be lowered."