REINVIGORATED Worcester City Supporters’ Trust have pledged to work on “parallel tracks” to the football club in a bid to make themselves a “stronger organisation”.

However, trust chiefs insisted they would be ready to “pick up the pieces” if the Vanarama National League North outfit went out of business.

At a meeting last week, it was unanimously agreed by trust members to push ahead with their efforts to strength their “community credentials” rather than focus their attentions on the football club.

The trust’s bid to make City a Community Benefit Society (CBS) was scuppered following a unsuccessful shareholders vote last month.

But chairman Dave Wood believes the setback has helped the trust, who are behind plans to build a 4,100-capacity ground at Perdiswell Park, gain further support.

“We are becoming a stronger organisation and getting more members,” he said.

“We are going to carry on down the CBS route because that’s the only outcome the football club will ever have.

“Whether it goes through under a manageable condition with the club still viable or the club falls through in two or three years, somebody has got to be there to pick up the pieces. We will always be the safety net.”

The trust have linked up with national network Locality, who aim to help community-led groups thrive by opening them up to several funding opportunities.

Secretary Rob Crean admitted he had reached a “low point” before speaking to the London-based non-profit organisation.

“I was on the verge of giving up but not now as I see a really bright future,” he said.

“I am so invigorated by the possibilities as Locality have given us great hope that we can still do this.

“This could be the answer to our problems.”

Director Rich Widdowson added: “As a CBS already, we effectively don’t need the football club to do what we want to do.”

With about £530,000 left in the bank, club bosses are considering lifting the limit on the number of shares held by an individual to attract new investors.

However, former City director Jem Pitt reckons the trust are in a better position to secure “significant amounts of funding”.

“We are dissociating ourselves and carrying on on parallel tracks (to the club),” Pitt said. “The club can do what they want. We have put together a framework which is going to provide a community hub, hopefully at Perdiswell.”

Pitt added: “We are talking about millions that we have to be able to raise.

“I don’t think there is any supporter who could raise six figures for the club.

“But we could have a funding portfolio, which includes grants and businesses who can put larger amounts of money into a community project than they would do into a limited company, particularly one failing like the football club.

“If we went to some of the major employers around Worcestershire and said we are looking to build a sports hub, which is going to be of benefit to the whole of the community that you as a business serve, it will look really good on them to invest.”