Fans have snapped up shares in Workington Reds after a new issue by the club earlier this month.

The club released a new batch of shares after the proposal went before the shareholders’ meeting at December’s AGM.

The issue was first offered to current shareholders, then to the public.

It is hoped the issue of up to £100,000 worth of shares will help to balance the budget for next year.

Interim joint-chairman John Mackay said the board was pleased with how sales had gone so far and that it was important, as a community club, for fans to be involved.

He said: “They’ve been going quite well. A number of present shareholders have taken up the offer.

“Sixty per cent have been taken up by present shareholders.

“There are still shares available but they’re selling reasonably well.

"They’ll stay on offer, so if someone suddenly becomes a Reds fan six months down the line, they can still take them up as long as some are still available.”

Mackay said he was pleased many people had taken up the offer who had not previously owned shares. He declined to confirm the exact amount of money raised so far with the issue, but described it as “reasonable”.

He added the spirit around the Borough Park club was encouraging as people pitched in to keep it on track.

“That’s the nice thing about Workington Reds,” he said. “We’ve got a broad fanbase and obviously the more people are involved in the club, the better.

“As a community club, there are a lot of good people who have the best interests of the club at heart.

“It’s a team and everybody pitches in, whether it’s directors, fans or volunteers. It’s like a jigsaw.”

The shares are priced at £1 each but the minimum purchase is 100 shares.

When they were released, Mackay said: “We are looking to try and balance a budget for next year so that new money does not fall down a black hole.”

For more information, call 01946 841429 or 07912 859480 or email john.mackay52@btinternet.com