They say a problem shared is a problem halved and there is nothing like the events of the past few weeks to remind you how true that is. The problems may not disappear but there is a world of difference between facing them alone and facing them together. For most of my past four years helping to run this football club I have taken the view that the most sensitive issues are best dealt with privately with the role of the board to be the ones frantically paddling their feet beneath the surface but occasionally a different approach is called for. While we are working hard to turn things around on the pitch we face an equally challenging time off the pitch and we have reached the point where we need to come together as a club and a community again to ensure this club has the bright future it deserves.

I have already given the Supporters’ Trust an overview of what lies ahead and we are working on a timetable of events that we will then be able to share out and make sure everyone is aware of what the next few months could look like.

On December 6, the judicial review takes place that will assess whether any of the points raised by a local resident about the process followed by Southwark Council in making their decision to approve the planning application for our stadium and residential development are valid and material enough to warrant instructing the Council to revisit those point. Simply starting the judicial review has already caused sufficiently long delays to greatly increase the risks to the club and time is running very short between the potential date of that review being completed and the deadline to have the dependent decisions, plans and contracts in place which will to allow us to continue next season. I have spoken before about how delays and ‘no decision’ are as damaging to the club as decisions that go against us and we have reached the point where time is now very much against us. ‘The operation was a complete success but unfortunately the patient died’ sounds far too apt for my liking right now.

I am amazed at how skilfully the board and management have kept us going against all odds since returning to Champion Hill but those of you who have been with us throughout that journey know that the new stadium was always a necessity not a luxury for our long-term security and we are going to need to come together to remind everyone of that reality before events overtake us in the wrong direction.

So, please, join or re-join the Supporters’ Trust, they and the club will need you and if nothing else it will ensure you are kept informed at each step and after years of effort in changing the structure of the club, now if you join, this club is literally yours on paper as well as in spirit.

We will publish the timeline in the coming weeks as well as information on how and when you can help.

First though we get to enjoy another FA Cup tie and our opponents once again travel from the Kent Coast as well as the recent pages of our pre-National League history. Folkestone were the last league team we beat at Champion Hill before we were exiled to Tooting in 2018 and we also won the reverse fixture that season in our march to promotion.

Whilst we have enjoyed a recent upturn in form we can take nothing for granted against a side that have not finished out of the top 6 in the league below us since 2017 and we can expect a tough match. It was good to put an end to a few unwelcome records during the week against Cheshunt, we were one game away from matching our longest run without a clean sheet since being promoted to this level but held out for 90 minutes at the 17th time of asking and the 3-0 victory brought an end to both our longest run of defeats in the National League and the longest wait for an away victory.

We know there is more work to do and our problems haven’t disappeared overnight but at least for the team and those supporting them on Tuesday night and hopefully again today those problems feel more than shared.

Enjoy the game and enjoy Champion Hill.