AFC TOTTON’S interim executive committee has been sliced in half for what acting chairman Andy Straker describes as “the good of the football club.”

After several failed attempts by outside parties to take over the financially stricken club during the summer, Totton opted to remain a members’ club and appointed a six-strong interim executive committee at the end of June.

Until this week all the feedback coming from the Testwood Stadium suggested the executive were working closely together to try and raise money and knock a hole in Totton’s massive £185,000 debt.

But Hayling Island businessman Nick Ferguson and Graham and Angela Speechley-Price wrote to club members this week informing them they had been “unexpectedly” removed from the committee, which now comprises just Straker, Rob Lomax and Ollie Tull.

Pointing to “differences of opinion” as the reason for the split, Straker said: “It had to happen for the good of the club.

“I would like to thank Nick, Graham and Angela for their work at the club over the past four weeks or so.

“We needed to make decisions that were best for the club and the members if we were to continue.

“AFC Totton is a members’ club and I will always take my instruction from them and work for them and the benefit of the club.” As yet, Totton have made no inroads into clearing the outstanding £50,000 in wages, including tax, owed to players and team management from last season.

However, a 70s/80s disco night organised by team boss Steve Riley last Saturday raised nearly £1,000.

and the Stags are hoping to drum up another significant sum tomorrow week (August 11) when Totton’s 2007 FA Vase final side take on an AFC Totton Guest XI (noon kick-off, entry £5 adults, £1 under-16s) in a fun day at the Testwood Stadium – the brainchild of striker Nathan Sherborne.

There have been rumours circulating that the Southern League is putting pressure on Totton to clear their debt to players ahead of the new Calor Premier Division season.

Straker confirmed: “The league have asked us if we’re near to reaching an agreement with the players but, without a massive cash injection, we can’t offer them all the money in one go.

“But we’ve raised quite a lot already and the proceeds from the fun day on August 11 will be going to the players. “We’re going to make an all-day event of it. “We haven’t paid any of the players’ money yet, but we’ll look to make a payment of sorts after August 11.

“The players aren’t happy and rightly so, but we’re trying to keep them informed as much as we can and we’ve made the league aware of what’s happening.

“The sooner we pay them, the happier everyone will be, but of course we’ve got other debts to concentrate on too.

“The remaining members of the executive will meet with the trustees and team management in the coming days to agree how the club will go forward.”

Totton have lost young striker Jack Odam to Premier rivals Bashley, but manager Steve Riley remains hopeful experienced utility man Dave Allen will stay.

Allen has been turning out for both Totton and Bashley in friendlies, but Riley, who takes his side to Fleet Town today, said: “Dave knows he’s wanted here. Keeping him has got to be a priority for the club and myself.”