Akhtar relieved at Latimer Park return after 'incredibly tough' time at Kettering
Owner George Akhtar has admitted Kettering Town's lengthy spell without any home fixtures has proved to be 'incredibly tough' in terms of the financial pressures on the club.
And he is calling on the Poppies supporters to come out in force when the team makes its belated return to Latimer Park when they jost Stratford Town on Tuesday night (ko 7.45pm).
It has been 73 days since Kettering last played at Latimer Park, seeing off Royston Town 3-0 way back on December 20.
There have been a string of postponements since then, mainly down to a waterlogged pitch thanks to the UK being battered by heavy rain for weeks on end.
And with no matchday income, it has fallen on Akhtar to dig deep and keep paying the bills and ensure the club ticks over, and he will be a relieved man once football, and cash-paying supporters, return to Latimer Park.
The match with Stratford is scheduled to be the first of 10 home Pitching-In Southern League Premier Central matches for the Poppies between now and April 18, and everybody involved at the club will be hoping the worst of the weather is now over as we head towards spring.
Asked about how being unable to play at home for more than two months, Akhtar admitted: "It is really difficult.
"You don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure it out, but the past four months have been incredibly straining and incredibly tough.
"The one thing is, we know the games have to be played, and we now need the support of the fans, we need people to come through the turnstiles and we need to generate that money.
"We have 10 cup finals to play at home and hopefully we can get the faithful fans through the turnstiles, and there is a play-off space that we want to get into.
"We need the support, and not just for financial reasons, because the lads have been on the road for months now.
"We just got a tough point at Stourbridge on Saturday and we just want to play at home now."
Quotes courtesy of Peter Short