BIG changes at Grays Athletic football club were announced at a supporters meeting last night, hailed as ”the best in years”.

A new committee, the majority of which are Blues fans, has been set up to run the football club.

A main sponsor is also in the pipeline, and the club is talks with other clubs about a ground share, with Tilbury as the preferred option.

It was also announced that the Billings family, the owners of the Bridge Road ground, are ringfencing £700,000 from its sale towards a new home for the club.

Joel Nathan, secretary until the last home game against Forest Green Rangers on Saturday, said: “We are looking for a new ground, we’ve been told that we’ve got up to three years to find a permanent home.”

Mr Nathan called the vibe at the meeting last night “fantastic”.

He said: “We’ve got a new shirt sponsor, this came from fans that had been staying away, but were so impressed with what they heard last night that they came forward.

”We’ve had fans who haven’t been for two years saying it was the best supporters meeting in years.”

Speaking about the new committee, he said: “A new committee has been set up, so nine people will be running the football club instead of just one, and with the exception of three people, everyone on the committee is a Grays fan.

“That was very well received at the meeting, that Grays Athletic will be run by Grays Athletic fans.”

As well as Joel Nathan, the new committee will include Andy Swallows as CEO, John Moncur as chairman, Val Pepperell as secretary, the Supporters Trust’s Tony Packer as Treasurer, Steve Pepperell, Paul Ward, Michael Parker, and Keith Burns.

This committee will meet on a regular basis to make decisions.

A team dedicated solely to finding a permanent home for the Blues has also been set up, comprising Glyn Jarvis, George Watts, and Michael Parker.

Mr Nathan said that the club couldn’t say if manager Julian Dicks and his assistant Kenny Brown would stay with the club what division it would be in, but he did confirm that Jamie Warren, who runs the under 18’s would now be involved with the first team on a day to day basis.

He also couldn’t confirm who the main sponsor will be, again until the club knows what division it will be in.

Season ticket prices have been confirmed at £150.

Mr Nathan said that the club expected crowds at the last home game on Saturday to be big.

He said there would be presentations to the players, 11 mascotts, and a minute silence for fans who have passed away.

He added: “Its going to be quite an emotional day.”