FORMER Canvey Island chairman George Frost has handed the Gulls a significant boost ahead of the new season after increasing his sponsorship in the club.

Frost, who stepped down as chairman at the end of the 2014 season, has remained on the board of directors and he and his wife Pauline have now renewed their sponsorship of the club’s ground – named the Frost Financial Stadium – for a second year.

Director Gary Sutton confirmed Frost had agreed to increase his sponsorship in line with writing off existing loans he had lent the club in the past.

The additional cash is likely to go towards improving the squad ahead of the new season, with Sutton revealing Frost had invested a five-figure sum into their coffers.

And Frost said he was happy to help manager Danny Heale and the club.

“The club is doing well with the new clubhouse (costing £300,000) coming along nicely so I was pleased to write off the loans to help,” he said.

“The club have the right man in charge in Danny,” he continued. “I appointed Danny so I have a soft spot for him and this gives him a chance to negotiate with players in regard to the wage bill.

“I would like to see them do well this season and there is no reason they can’t.”

“George was our chairman previously and he has always continued to support the club, even when his work took him overseas,” added Sutton.

“He and his wife Pauline have agreed to sponsor the stadium for another season and he has increased the amount which is good of him. George has also agreed to write off some personal loans he made when he was chairman.

“It will give us a more competitive budget in the league and that will go a long way in helping us bring in targets (manager) Danny (Heale) thinks will improve the squad.

“You only need to look at the calibre of players some of the teams in the Ryman Premier League are bringing in to know how competitive it will be next season.”

Frost helped set up the club’s academy set-up when he was previously chairman as well as oversee the successful Essex Senior Cup campaign of 2012.

Canvey will be hoping the investment sees an improvement return on three consecutive bottom-half finishes in the league, and Heale has been busy in the transfer market with George Sykes and Lee O’Leary linking up with the club so far in the off season.