Sittingbourne manager Darren Blackburn and his coaching team forgo expenses for the good of the squad

The management team at Sittingbourne have volunteered to throw their expenses back in the pot to help keep the squad they have assembled together.

Manager Darren Blackburn and his backroom staff would rather pay their own petrol money than see any of their players leave or miss out.

Blackburn said: “We have had to make some financial adjustments at times, we made a couple of adjustments at Christmas time, this week we have had to make a couple more but it is what it is.

“Not that the staff and myself were getting a great deal, but we were getting enough to cover our petrol and we have thrown that back into the pot.

“None of us are big time, we don’t think we are bigger or better than the club, we are all happy to chip in and help out and do what we can.

“We are fortunate that we can just about afford to do that ourselves. We are chucking our money back in so it doesn’t affect the players too much, because there are youngsters in there and they probably need the money more than we do. I would rather make sure we can keep the group together for as long as we can.

“I haven’t had to trim anything off their money, financial adjustments are difficult but we have to make the best of it. We have to make the best of what we have got and if that is good enough on a Saturday afternoon then so be it. If not then we have to get back on the training pitch and go again the following Saturday.

“We love the game, we love being around the lads and each other. It’s a great club, the fans are brilliant and I feel very privileged to manage the club. I have no issues whatsoever.

“I knew when I took over they were never going to be the strongest financially, but we are trying to improve things on and off the pitch. There are some great people