Sutton United supporters can now apply to buy a stake in the club.

Shares in Sutton United FC Ltd, are being put up for sale for £50 each, but the club will only accept applications for a minimum of five shares and all applications have to be approved by the board of directors.

Shares do not pay a dividend or trade on the open market.

Company chairman Barry Aplin said: “For half a century the company only had 50 £1 shares and we thought it was time to get more in line with the modern world by expanding that capital to £100,000 - or 2,000 £50 shares.

“That issues went better than we dared hope and a year ago we reached a situation where all the shares had been issued but we still had a waiting list.

“We also needed shares available to attract new investment into the club.

“By doubling the share-base, we hope to have met both those aims and also spared ourselves the trouble of going through the exercise yet again in the near future."

To apply for shares or for more details e-mail secretary@suttonunited.net