A TEN point plan to revive the fortunes of ailing Kendal Town Football Club has been issued by club chairman George Gudgeon.

A heavy home defeat by mid-table Widnes on Saturday deepened the gloom for Mintcakes fans, whose side are now second from bottom of the Evo-Stik League Division One West table with 11 points from their 17 games.

And they face a crunch six pointer on Saturday when Dave Foster's side travel to face bottom side Skelmersdale United.

But Mr Gudgeon said he remained "positive" about the club's future and pointed out that during his three year tenure at the helm, the club had "recovered to a point where it has cleared virtually all of its debts."

However, he warned in the statement that this situation "has not come without significant cost in terms of the considerable and unsustainable time that a very small core group of volunteers put into the club to keep it going week in and week out, in addition to their day jobs."

Mr Gudgeon stressed that the club must now live within its means in spite of falling gate receipts, and said it was a "matter of priority" that more committee members and more match day volunteers came forward to help the club.

He also used the message to attack the "keyboard warriors" who he said had unfairly criticised the present regime.

"Unfortunately, a small group of people continue to post negative comments on social media platforms without really knowing or understanding just how much good work has gone into the club in the past three years, or the extent of what has had to be put right," said Mr Gudgeon in the statement.

"While the club will continue to encourage critical friends and extend a welcome for them to get involved as a volunteer with the club, however some of its critics add no value to the club what so ever."

But Mr Gudgeon was far from downbeat and has drawn up a 10 point plan designed to turn things round in the next three years.

The plan is as follows:

1. Provide opportunities and progression for players in and around the surrounding area through: invitation; open trials; investment and development; and a pathway to our first team squad.

2. Reduce overall playing costs with immediate effect, until further notice - pending income generation, to keep within budget. In doing so, retain as many first players as possible.

3. Review pricing structure for admission; in particular number of permitted free guest passes into the ground for players' friends and visiting officials, clarity about age for concessions, charging guests of players concession rates, charging for teenagers (e.g. £1), etc.

4. Increase fan base and club membership structure in keeping with above strategies.

5. Increase income generation. Systematically target all local businesses to support and get behind KTFC, a football club in the heart of the town for the local community, financially or in other ways. Hold a potential sponsor meeting early in the New Year.

6. Further develop Finney's as the preferred choice of venue for the local community.

7. Significantly increase the membership of the club's management committee, with skill sets that will enable the club to develop further; such as marketing and communication, bid writing to access grants, hospitality and catering, bar management, grounds maintenance

8. Significantly increase the number of volunteers, such as stewards for match days, bar staff, kitchen staff, ground staff, hospitality and security (when needed).

9. Improve communications with media, fan base and sponsors. Establish annual cycle of published meetings. Encourage an approved constituted supporters club, with behaviour charter, to give fans an official voice.

10. Appoint a spokesman for the club to act as the link for the media and supporters club. The items above are interlinked and dependent on each other for eventual success.

Mr Gudgeon then reiterated his earlier pledge to arrange a meeting in the New Year involving everyone connected to the club, and confirmed he would shortly be advising the date of the meeting.