Mel Spence, one of the men behind a successful rescue mission at Sutton Town, has revealed that the Northern Counties East League's club debts are "phenomenal", reports the Non-League Paper.

A deal to buy chairman Eric Hetherington's 50% stake and effectively secure the Nottinghamshire club's short-term future was completed late on Thursday evening.

But, Spence urged supporters to be patient as his consortium prepares a "clean sweep of the club".

"Let's say that the debts were more than initially disclosed," he said.

"I don't want to put a figure on it, but it runs into tens of thousands of pounds.

"The more important figure, at this stage, is that we must pay off ?30,000 this season."

Currently the club is without a manager after the resignation of former Mansfield Town and Darlington defender Les McJannet, who has since joined Glapwell, but Spence believes the more important loss is secretary Roger Keeling.

"To be honest, Les would have been sacked if he hadn't resigned.

"He enjoyed success here, but he given a lot of money with which to do it - and the crowds of 30 and 40 at the end of the season were reaction to some poor football.

"Roger, on the other hand, is a big loss to us. He has been great for Sutton and has virtually run the club when Eric hasn't been here.

"Perhaps he was shocked hearing about the final debt."

Mr Spence said he was hopeful most of last season's squad, which fared well in their first term in the Premier Division, would stay, but the new directors would be looking for "lads who will wear Sutton on their sleeves".

"We will have a reasonable budget, but a reduced one.

"We must therefore ask the fans to be patient, but also to stick with us.

"Once we get through next season, things could look brighter for Sutton again."

Hetherington, who will play no formal role in the new structure, said he had "mixed feelings" but wished the directors "the very
best of luck".

"I feel empty and sad in a way because obviously Sutton is in my blood.

"It's not easy to run a Non-League club at this level and I accept that I had taken Sutton as far as I could.

"We needed new blood, new ideas and new enthusiasm and that's what we've now got."