THE chairman of the Bracknell Bees has issued a desperate plea for fans to throw their support behind the team after revealing it struggled to pay players last month.

The short-term financial prospects for the Bracknell Bees are 'difficult' according to chairman Andrew Cross who has urged loyal fans to keep backing the club while insisting the challenges it faces are 'not insurmountable'.

Temporary ice rink closures, manufacturing problems with replica shirts and a 20 per cent drop in ticket sales have had a major impact on the club's finances for the 2015/16 season.

In a statement, the club said: "We are releasing details of the club’s finances to answer speculation over the clubs short, medium and long term viability. The short term financial prospects for the club are difficult. The medium and long term financial prospects for the club are promising and strong."

The first closure of the ice rink at the beginning of the season cost the club £8,000, Mr Cross revealed, while a second closure saw the club take in just £1,241 in ticket sales and fundraising.

Despite the lost revenue, the club still had to pay out £28,000 in salary and rink rental costs prompting Mr Cross to urge fans to keep backing the team through buying tickets and merchandise.

He said: "First and foremost I am calling on the fans to keep getting behind the team as you have done all season. 

"Not all the results have been to everyone’s liking including the players. Last Sunday was a joy to watch. But we also need financial support.

"Ben Beeching and I are determined to do everything within our powers to make funds available for salaries and equipment and we will need the fans help to achieve that. The challenges we are faced with this season are challenging but not insurmountable. We remain with the objective of taking this club into the Elite League where it rightfully belongs."

He revealed the club struggled to pay players' salary in October and will struggle again to pay them in November and December, there is also no money left to pay for player equipment. 

Mr Cross said: "This season’s finances were carefully constructed using previous seasons’ results. We did not anticipate the disruptions to the ice rink and the drop in season ticket sales. 

"Running an EPIHL team financially is tough enough without the challenges we have faced this season. 

Despite their problems, the Bees have won their past two games and Mr Cross paid tribute to the players. 

He said: “The results are a testament to the players’ strength of character. Our intention is to meet our fixture obligations, reach the play-offs and if recent showings are a barometer of our future performances, I believe we will.”