JOHN Barton has been backed to bring title glory to Worcester City.

Club chairman Dr Mike Sorensen believes the City manager has forged a squad capable of winning the Dr Martens Premier Division.

City kick off their campaign at home to Havant and Waterlooville today (3pm) and Sorensen claims the club is in a better position than ever to succeed.

"There's a good buzz and feel around the club," said Sorensen.

"We believe we have a better side, with better balance and more pace than last season. So long as we have a little bit more luck with injuries we are very hopeful of a high finish and who is to say we cannot win the league."

Sorensen paid tribute to Barton for revitalising the club's fortunes during his three-and-a-half years with the club and is convinced he's the best man for the job.

"John Barton is as good a non-league manager as any I have come across," he added.

"He knows the game, and non-league scene, has a genuine feel for the club and cares about it.

"He inherited a shambles of a team that stood a good chance of being relegated but turned it round."

Sorensen revealed the club had splashed out more than £30,000 on transfer dealings in the last year and had increased Barton's budget for the coming season.

"Our wage bill is competitive but not the highest in the league," he said.

"If the team does well and crowds increase we would like to let him have more but having a large wage bill doesn't necessarily mean you are going to be successful."

With the proposed ground move to Nunnery Way in the pipeline, the future could be rosy for City with Sorensen, now in his 13th year at the club, convinced of its potential.

"Worcester is capable of supporting Second or Third Division football, no question, which is why I continue to be involved," he said.

"The club was destroyed in the late 1980s but we've rebuilt it and we're working hard to realise that potential.

"If there are people interested in investing in the club we are more than happy to talk to them but in my time we have not had any serious interest which has surprised me."