BILLERICAY Town owner Glenn Tamplin says he will take the club off the market unless he finds a replacement ‘with the same ambition’ as himself in the next three weeks.

Tamplin put the National League South side up for sale six days ago, shortly after last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Woking and after he was interviewed by police in front of his children following allegations he had ‘snorted cocaine in the public toilets’.

But the owner - who has invested £2.5 million into the club - may yet remain at the helm after telling the Echo this morning he will ‘not break promises made to the Billericay fans’.

The millionaire steel magnate added that talks with potential investors so far have indicated investment would be slashed as a result of a takeover and he believes the club struggle to maintain their National League South status.

“I maintain my love for Billericay Town Football Club,” said Tamplin. “All potential buyers I have spoken to cannot match my investment and will dissect the team, get overheads down and Billericay would be lucky to stay in this league.

“Therefore, I will remain the owner until I find an owner who has the ambition to take this club into the Football League. I will not break my word to the Billericay fans or the community.

“If I do not find a suitable buyer in the next three weeks with the same ambition as myself I will remain at the club. I will never walk away from it and leave it to go into liquidation.”

Tamplin will be on the touchline at Billericay’s match against Hemel Hempstead Town today, alongside first team coach Tristan Lewis.

And he said he was ‘nervous’ ahead of the encounter.

“I do feel nervous, of course,” he added. “I am sure I will get stick from the fans.”