Friday 20 April 2018 17:38, UK
Millwall Lionesses general manager Daniel Logue says they have been "completely blown away" by crowdfunding efforts to help save the club from administration.
The club, currently second in the Women's Super League 2, set up a donations page earlier this week saying "significant financial discrepancies" had left them facing an uncertain future.
They had set an initial target of £10,000 but, as of Friday afternoon, donations had reached nearly £16,000 and Logue says everyone at the club is incredibly thankful for the support but stressed their financial situation was still "extremely serious".
Logue told Sky Sports News: "Everyone at the club has been completely blown away by the level of support we have received.
"We were hopeful of attracting some donations to help us towards that initial target but the speed with which it was met, and from the number of people, was astonishing and none of us could be any more grateful. It was a huge boost.
"The situation is extremely serious and we are having to operate on a day-to-day basis at the moment. We have short and long-term ambitions, and certainly the main one in the former is to complete the season.
"The team has had a remarkable campaign so far - they're still unbeaten in the League - and we want to finish as high as possible, hopefully by winning the title.
"The money we've raised through crowdfunding will help us towards that but we need to fill a much larger shortfall in order to give us a platform for finding long-term sustainability."
Logue revealed the money raised so far is necessary just to help the club fulfil their fixtures this season.
"All players and staff have come together and decided to go without any wages between now and the end of the season, which shows the level of commitment to the cause which exists between those directly affected by the future," he added.
"The money raised through crowdfunding, therefore, is helping to fund some running costs and will contribute to things as simple as paying referees so we can fulfil our fixture list."
Logue said finding a new sponsorship deal is "crucial" to help the club continue in the long-term.
"Sponsorship is crucial to securing the club's long-term future," he said. "Recruiting an individual or business who are willing to take up a main sponsorship package will save the club from probable administration and ultimate closure.
"I can't stress its importance for us in terms of finding financial stability and sustainability moving forward enough."
