City chairman vows to support Heeley’s push for promotion

City have put £12,000 in the bank following victories over Gornal Athletic and Weston-super-Mare and would more than double that if they beat Bromley in the fourth qualifying round a week on Saturday.

Hampson is determined to give the club every chance of success in their last season at St George’s Lane and will back Heeley for a possible promotion push in Blue Square Bet North despite concerns over the club’s future.

In-form Worcester are sixth in the table, only separated from fifth-placed Halifax by goal difference, and host Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday looking to stretch their unbeaten home league run to six matches.

Hampson said: “It’s up to the manager. Carl knows what he’s doing and has got a budget to work to but it’s helpful if you win this sort of money.

“It means we can certainly invest in the playing budget going on for this season. Last year we got knocked out in the second qualifying round at Godalming and it makes a big difference now to feel we have a fair wind behind us.”

Hampson knows Worcester face an uncertain future and would like nothing better than for them to bring the curtain down on 108 years at the Lane with long overdue success.

But the chief accepts the cup money is a drop in the ocean when it comes to securing the new home that City cannot currently afford and he does not pretend otherwise.

Hampson said: “As we know, off the pitch we’ve got some major problems so it would be wrong to mislead people into thinking this is the saviour of the club.”

He was full of praise for the club’s fans after the first four-figure gate of the season turned out for Monday’s 1-0 third qualifying round replay against Weston.

There could be a similarly large attendance against Stalybridge given City are admitting season ticket holders from any club for £5 as part of non-league day.

“There was an excellent crowd on Monday of 1,013 so I was delighted they came out to support us,” Hampson added.