COUNCIL leader Mike Oborski said Mr Newton must have been under "enormous stress" when resigning to criticise the authority.

He pointed to correspondence in which the former chairman praised the council's work.

In a letter to Wyre Forest District Council last October, days after he criticised the authority in the Shuttle/Times & News , Mr Newton wrote: "I would like to reiterate your comments that we value our relationship with Wyre Forest District Council and I know in your hearts that you will do everything possible to help this club as it is essential to continue our success for the good of Kidderminster and its community."

This followed Mr Newton's comments in the newspaper that the council, which owns the Aggborough ground, "had done nothing for this club, only take the ground off the directors".

Mr Oborski said: "We made it clear to Lionel that we were not in a financial position to give money to the club.

"That is still the case. You only have to look at our budget situation. However, we do everything we can to help the club and shall continue to do so."

The council leader added the town's geographical location was a factor in small gates.

He said: "In Wyre Forest we suffer from the 18-miles factor.

"We are 18 miles from Worcester, Wolverhampton and Birmingham and this affects everything from trying to get a cinema to receiving Government grants.

"In football, many people here are drawn to the Villa, Wolves, the Baggies and Birmingham City - this is bound to affect gates."