DIRECTOR and manager of Salisbury City FC Steve Claridge insists the newly-formed consortium will do its best to run the club “sensibly and sustainably”.

Claridge and fellow board members Jeremy Harwood, David Phillips, Graeme Mundy and Ian Ridley had their bid to buy the Whites’ assets accepted by the administrator.

Once the paperwork is finalised, Claridge, a former pro, who has had managerial stints at Portsmouth, Millwall and Weymouth, is eager to get a phoenix club up-and-running.

“Now I'm really looking forward to trying to get us back up the football pyramid as quickly as possible, being realistic about that at the same time,” the former Pompey and Leicester City striker said.

“I intend to spend the rest of this season looking for and recruiting players for next season so that we hit the ground running.

“I would also like to get some sort of team out this season so that maybe we can get some decent friendly games on at the Ray Mac and give long-suffering Salisbury supporters their football fix back.

“I don't know if that is possible, but we will give it a go. What I do know is that this is a good day for football in Salisbury at last after all the recent heartache.

“We as a group will do our utmost to run the club sensibly and sustainably, through gate receipts and commercial activity and other income we can attract. For that, we are going to need the fans' help and involvement.

“We're certainly going to have a right go and try to enjoy it, as we hope everybody will. Football is supposed to be fun after all!”

• Salisbury were evicted from the Football Conference in the summer for failing to settle creditors.

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