I HAVE never understood why there should be so much rivalry between sporting clubs in Worcester.

Surely, anyone with an appreciation for sport should want all to do well – from Worcester City, Warriors and the county cricket club to the Wolves basketball team and individuals representing the city. I am a fan of sport in Worcester and I want to see all prosper.

I look at the bigger picture, it’s not about one code of sport but about success for the city and county. I support others here because I want them to do well.

The football club has had a lot of criticism from people outside of its core support in recent times because of the apparent financial mismanagement of the past.

But things are looking better now and, headed up by our board of directors, it’s looking like there might be light at the end of the tunnel.

The profile of the club, in comparative terms to the level the Warriors and cricket club play at, has always surprised me.

We have always attracted a lot of interest but need a little bit of help from outside.

The club are trying to move forward and, although we are one of the best supported at our level, we don’t have the financial backing of some teams.

Players want to come and join us because City are now seen as a side who can push on towards the Blue Square Bet North play-offs, whether that be this season or next.

However, we need to try and make that next step without anything really changing or an increase in resources.

The gates are not going to treble, nor is someone going to throw millions of pounds at our cause.

We are quite unusual in that respect because most clubs have some kind of financial investment from an outside party.

It becomes increasingly difficult to get better players for the same money although we have done that of late – following the acquisitions of Stuart Whitehead, Tyler Weir, Ellis Deeney and Greg Mills – and can do it again.

Players in the non-league game expect to be compensated financially for their efforts but a few old-fashioned values remain. They play because a club looks after them, they enjoy their football and also have pride in wanting to be successful.

Crucially, City are in a stable position with a decent fanbase and not running the risk of a benefactor walking away, as has happened to other clubs at our level.

But we do have to find a solution in the next 16 months as to where we will play in the short-term while the proposed move to Nunnery Way is ongoing.

City have faced many challenges in the past and will tackle more in the future but I believe we can still achieve success.

I am sure it will be tough going forward but I feel positive and am certain we will keep moving in the right direction.