WITTON Albion have dropped matchday car parking charges that were introduced at the weekend for the visit of league leaders South Shields.

Chairman John Salmon, who says great strides continue to be taken in turning around the club's financial position, has admitted the initiative of charging £2 per car was not received in the way the club had hoped.

"The car park needs some maintenance and general improvement as the surface is not in good condition," he said in a club statement.

"The recent car park charging introduced has not proved to be popular and, while many embraced it, the general consensus was it should not have been imposed.

"As a consequence, this initiative will be dropped. We may revisit it in the future should we feel the need to do so, but it will be better thought out and better advertised.

"We will have to find ways to improve the car park surface from other resources."

Albion's biggest 'gate' of the season as Carl Macauley's side ran out 3-1 victors included the tea hut making record sales and the social club similarly recording an excellent return, further boosting an improving financial position at Wincham Park that has recently allowed manager Carl Macauley to boost the squad's depth with the recruitment of MJ Monaghan, Connor Heath, Luke Wall and this week Kyle Sambor.

"Many thanks to you as supporters, volunteers, 60 Club members and Gold and Silver card members for getting behind the various financial initiatives which is bringing stability to the football club," said Salmon.

"We have now started to put monies aside for a rainy day for the first time in my nearly six years at the football club.

"The business model had to change and with our ground being rented by Northwich Victoria, ProCon, Slimming World, Mini Dribblers, Evergreen Limited and Eurovia, we are maximising the use of the stadium and creating a number of income streams which has massively helped our financial situation.

"We cannot survive on gate receipts alone at this level and even now our budget is in the lower four or five in the division compared to the riches elsewhere.

"I do not always get it right, but in the main, the club is going in the right direction."

Witton have previously given notification of exploring the idea of introducing an artificial surface at Wincham Park, to further increase the facility's usage options.

"Whilst the 3G is still an option, our improved finances, if sustained, do not now make it essential to our survival," said Salmon.

"Money gives you options. The management, like the board and key volunteers, are acutely aware that the club is rapidly going in the right direction."