The owner of Billericay Football Club, Glenn Tamplin, has given two rough sleepers a new life off the streets.

The millionaire manager of the Isthmian Premier League club has taken the two men, Richard and Ray away from a life of rough sleeping, giving them jobs and a home to stay in.

Mr Tamplin said: "I have been talking to Ray for about six weeks no and I have been giving him food, buying him fish and chips, some money or just talking the two of them."

Mr Tamplin said that he was amazed by the stories the two men lived before their lives took a turn for the worst through addiction.

Their stories compelled him to take them in and give Richard and Ray a chance to put their lives back together.

Mr Tamplin said: "I understand a lot about the things they have been through.

"They lost everything to addiction and ten years ago I had my own period where I almost lost it all.

"I thought to myself that if I do not help them then maybe no one will."

Mr Tamplin took only a week to decide that he was going to take Richard and Ray in, and he says that they can remain with the club for as long as they need to be.

He said: "I thought about it and then I went up to them and said, 'I am going to change your lives'.

"I do not do temporary fixes and they are welcome to stay with us as long as they are working and making progress.

"They can spend the rest of their lives with the club if that is what they need."

They will be given a home that Mr Tamplin will fund himself and jobs working at the club.

Richard will act as a 'handy man' around the AGP Arena, fixing up the grounds and helping the staff around the stadium.

Ray will work as an evening security officer, ensuring the safety of the ground during the night.

Mr Tamplin hopes that the act can be a further statement of his intentions for Billericay as a town.

He said: "I am building a community here and I am putting people out there to help people.

"All my thoughts are with Billericay, we are looking to help this community and build upon the work we have done with Bosp (Brighter Opportunities through Supported Play) and our main man, John Baron."

Mr Tamplin has been working closely with the Basildon MP, who supports around 30 charities through the charity fun walk scheme.

Although he does not want to stop at just helping Richard and Ray, Mr Tamplin said that working to improve their lives is the beginning of a gradual process.

He said: "We need to move one step at a time.

"I cannot fix the world and it would not work if I were to take in 20 people and try and help them all.

"It is about quality and not quantity, I need to first take these two men and put them in a good place, then we can go again."