FOOTBALL fans fighting to save their beloved club from moving are claiming victory after the two key figures spearheading the transfer deal have dramatically resigned.

But campaigners have been warned their celebrations could be premature as the controversial plans could still be the only option to improve the club.

Brockenhurst Football Club has been left an organisation divided after bosses revealed plans to relocate from the village centre.

Now supporters are calling for the rift to be healed following the shock departure of the club's president and chairman who both decided to quit following a heated meeting last week that failed to make progress.

Cyril Otter, 83, life member and honorary vice-president, led a band of campaigners determined that the club should not move.

"This is victory for our group and the village," said Mr Otter, of Chestnut Road, Brockenhurst.

"We never wanted relocation and now we have been heard. I have had more phone calls than I have had lunches since people found out, everybody is really cheerful."

The club has been ordered to update the run-down ground at Grigg Lane by the Sydenhams Wessex League.

Club chiefs were thinking about selling the prime site to developers for a six-figure sum and building a brand-new facility elsewhere.

Mr Otter said the "floodgates are now open" for his group to start fundraising to fund the ground's much-needed makeover.

Resigning president Mike Kimber who lives in Dorset said he was extremely sad to have left the club.

The 67-year-old had been president since 1998 and used to play for Brockenhurst in the 1960s.

"The meeting last week was so difficult. Afterwards I looked at it and thought, although I loved playing football at Brockenhurst, it is not my village and it's obviously a very emotive problem. It wants someone locally who has got a lot of time who can bring them together.

"I am very sad. It has been a very successful soccer team way above its station. I fear for it in the future because there are so many different people pulling it different ways.

Mr Kimber estimated that a cash injection of around £250,000 will be needed to pay for all the work needed at Grigg Lane.

Nina Ball, chairman of Brockenhurst Parish Council, said: "We are all concerned about the football club, if it has to improve its ground it has to do that.

"It is not suddenly going to get better overnight because the chairman and president have gone."

Former chairman Brian Small is on holiday and was unavailable for comment.