NEW Worcester City chairman Dave Boddy has pledged to build on the legacy of Dr Michael Sorensen and help the club realise its Nationwide Conference ambitions.

The 40-year-old has succeeded Sorensen after the outgoing chairman decided to stand down to spend more time with his family.

Boddy was elected at a board meeting on Tuesday night after Sorensen resigned, citing the increasing dual demands of his job as a general practitioner and the hours required in his position as chairman.

Sorensen will remain as a club director and medical officer.

Boddy, a life-long City supporter and director for four years, paid tribute to Dr Sorensen who rescued the St George's Lane club from the doldrums almost 13 years ago.

"Without Mike's contribution it's possible we might not have had a football club to be running and supporting today because it was clearly in a terrible state when he took over," said Boddy.

"He not only saved it but went on to stabilise it to reach the point where we are today.

"I believe we have now got the infrastructure in place to take us to the next level and beyond," added Boddy.

"We need to improve our income streams and we are working on that to try and to give manager John Barton a bigger budget to take us into the Conference.

"The immediate aim is to make sure we are part of the restructuring next season, whether it is in the Conference north or south. We are prudently run and that is not going to change," added Boddy.

"The board is on record as saying we are not mega-wealthy people but we put in what we can plus we put in a lot of hard work."

Boddy vowed to bring enthusiasm, motivation and strong leadership to his tenure as chairman.

He takes the helm during a crucial period in City's history with the club nearly £700,000 in debt and with hopes of moving to a new stadium at Nunnery Way.

Club director Bob Marley said Boddy was the unanimous choice of the board.

"There was only one person we wanted to stand and that was Dave," said Marley.

"It was a simple process for us -- he brings immense enthusiasm and a keen commercial brain to the role of chairman."