Troubled Cromer Town have taken steps to prolong the club's 129-year existence.

Rumours have been rife on social media that the Crabs are likely to fold after off-the-pitch issues raised their head at training on Thursday night.

Manager Mark Reeve, who had only been at the helm for three weeks, left his position by mutual consent after both parties agreed he couldn't take the club forward as planned. But a group of players are hoping to ensure a side remains in the Anglian Combination Premier Division next term and chairman Paul Jarvis hasn't given up on Town's future either.

'Mark's was an honest appointment and he was very positive with what we were hoping to do,' said the man who has been at the helm for 24 years. 'Since then there's been a change in the circumstances. We re-looked at our financial situation and it wasn't as good as we had hoped it would be. We've got a shrinking committee and the fight we've had to save our ground in the last few years has taken its toll. We've spent a lot of money trying to defend our position.

'If we'd have carried on as planned we'd have been unlikely to last a full season. The last thing we want to see is the club fold so we will do everything we can to see if a different type of side, running not far off a budget of zero, can represent the town at a senior level next season.'

The perennial title-challengers disbanded their under-18s team last term and look likely to run without a reserve team this campaign.

A meeting will be held at the club's Cabbell Park ground – where Cromer have been fighting a legal battle to remain after 91 years there – on Tuesday at 7.30pm. Anyone interested in helping the Crabs, on or off the pitch, is encouraged to attend.

Jarvis added: 'This type of threat must hang over many other clubs. The cost of legal advice for us, plus upgrades to facilities under FA requirements, have all added up. We're just trying to remain positive.'

? A host of the area's non-league sides will continue their pre-season schedules this afternoon. Some of the day's friendlies are as follows: AFC Sudbury v King's Lynn Town, Lowestoft Town v Kirkley & Pakefield, Wroxham v Felixstowe & Walton United, Gorleston v Needham Market (2.30pm), Whitton United v Mildenhall Town, Fakenham Town v Norwich United, Sleaford Town v Swaffham Town