EX-CHAIRMAN Anthony Hampson vowed to support successor Steve Goode’s vision for Worcester City and declared he “would not turn my back on the club”.

Goode took the reins in the aftermath of City’s Parsonage Way stadium plans going up in smoke in July, a call made “for some of the flimsiest reasons I have heard of in planning” according to Hampson.

“That was enough” for the embattled club chief who stood down with four Worcester City Supporters’ Trust-affiliated joining the board, including Goode and trust chairman Dave Wood.

Since then, focus has shifted back towards the trust’s push for a stadium at Perdiswell and a community-owned model to help to deliver it despite dwindling cash reserves and factions of Worcester City Council being against a land transfer.

Community ownership rests on altering the club’s long-standing constitution, a move City’s board encouraged shareholders to vote against at an AGM in 2016 but one that Hampson indicated he would now back.

“Steve Goode and the other three directors were extremely keen to move the club forward,” said Hampson.

“It was only fair for them to have the opportunity to give the club its best chance. I had done 10 years and it was time for other people to have a go.

“I was very disappointed about Parsonage Way. I made the assumption we were all working together (the club and Worcester City Council) but it seemed to fail for some of the flimsiest reasons I have heard of in planning.

“Despite the development on the other side of the motorway the consideration suddenly changed. It was not going to happen and that was that.

"Personally, I was disappointed. Having given it three or four attempts that was enough for me.”

Fans remain concerned that former directors could block a change to a one-member-one-vote ownership model as opposed to the current system which is weighted by volume of shares.

More than 75 per cent of the vote would be required to push it through.

“The new chairman came to see me about a month ago and I effectively said I would not stand in the way of the prospect of community ownership, that I would do everything I considered beneficial to the club,” said Hampson.

“If community ownership can deliver the land at Perdiswell then of course it is the best way forward.

“I would imagine most of the shareholders hold the same view as me. If it benefits the club and helps to deliver that land then I could not see them standing in the way. I cannot speak for them but they have the club at heart.”

Hampson said he remained “very much interested” in City’s fortunes and that the prospect of returning as a supporter would be “very likely once the dust settles”.

He described as “pretty unlikely” a comeback to the boardroom but added: “I am a Worcester person and would not turn my back on the club.”

Asked whether he had a parting message for supporters, Hampson replied: “Keep the faith!”