Kingstonian’s board has issued an impassioned plea with supporters calling for “trust and confidence” as the club closes in on a new home – attacking some fans for having “agendas driven by personal animosity” in their criticisms.

In a statement published on the club’s website, co-chairmen Malcolm Winwright, Mark Anderson and John Fenwick moved to ease fears that plans to build a new ground in Chessington had collapsed and the scheme “remains alive”.

The board also said that an announcement on which club Ks will be sharing a ground with next year will be made by the end of January as “certain legal situations” still need clarifying.

From March 2016: 'It will be the making of the club': Kingstonian announce plans to build new stadium on Chessington Golf Centre

From Thursday, January 5: Ks in Crisis? Fans reject chance to take over Kingstonian as uncertainty over club's future grows

The statement said: “Rest assured we are aware of the concerns and tension around the club. We are living it every day and understand the feelings of the vast majority of Kingstonian supporters.”

“Trust and confidence in the board needs to be earned but after eleven years of doing this, remaining competitive whilst viable at the same time does count for something surely.

“There is no doubt in our minds that there are one or two out there with agendas either driven by personal animosity towards us or with bigger plans, who knows.

“Let’s hope they do not cause damage or divert us from what we are trying to achieve here.”

Surrey Comet:

Ks fans voted to reject taking over control from the board last month

Kingstonian have to leave Kingsmeadow stadium for the start of next season as leaseholders AFC Wimbledon, who share the ground, sold it to Premier League giants Chelsea last year.

Last month, supporters rejected the chance to take control of the club amid doubts over its immediate future, with many fans openly criticising the board.

Fans were shown provisional plans to build a new stadium at the former Chessington Golf Centre last year, but questions have been raised over its viability as the site is on green belt land.

Former board member Gary Ekins has said many supporters believe there is “zero chance” of the move to Chessington happening.

The board's statement added: “We met with Kingston Council and the developer regarding Chessington before Christmas and later this month there is a major planning hearing regarding the site with the Greater London Authority.

“The result of this meeting will determine if the plan in its current form has “legs”, what changes would need to be made to “give it legs” or if any plan on the site would be unlikely to succeed.

“Currently the scheme remains alive and a possibility given the latest updates we have received.”