The majority shareholder of Worcester City has urged the club and its fans to "enjoy the challenge of step four" ahead of the 2024/25 season.

In a season-starting statement, Simon Lancaster said the work had not stopped over the summer following the club's title-winning promotion from the Hellenic League Premier Division to the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands.

Mr Lancaster said that the rebuilding of the club switched into high gear once the celebrations were over, a process involving recruiting and pre-season preparations.

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He said: "Chris (Cornes) has done a lot of great work again in terms of recruitment and pre-season preparations, strengthening both the coaching and playing staff to ensure that the squad is in the best shape possible."

Speaking on his vision for the future, Mr Lancaster said: "We are trying to continually move the club forward and restore it to its former glory, for the city to enjoy, which costs money.

"At the same time, we are simultaneously trying to lead the club away from decades of loss-making and toward financial sustainability, without an over reliance on any one individual, so as to secure its future."

The lack of a home ground, he suggested, is a major hurdle since other clubs at their level reap massive revenue from using their grounds as venues throughout the week.

The club is focusing on strengthening its revenue streams.

He said: "We have sadly also had to raise prices.

"Trust me when I say that we don’t do this lightly, as our supporters are by far and away the most important people at our club.

"We recognise that we can’t make City too expensive for you, particularly with times being so hard, so it is a difficult balance we are trying really hard to find."

Mr Lancaster concluded: "We must be pragmatic – as with every step up this season will be significantly harder than the last.

"We will not be winning every week, or scoring eight goals in so many games.

"Remembering where we were 18 months ago, when we were near the bottom of step five, nearly losing our beloved club - so let’s enjoy the challenge that step four brings."