WHITTON United chairman and assistant manager Ruel Fox says that his club is a great advert for how success should be achieved.

But he says that the Ridgeons League First Division promotion hopefuls, who won the Suffolk Senior Cup with a 1-0 win over Lakenheath at Portman Road on Monday, do not receive the credit or help they deserve.

Ipswich’s best known non-league club almost folded two years ago when they were forced to pull their first team out of the Premier Division of the Ridgeons League.

Since then former Norwich City, Newcastle United and Tottenham winger Fox has played a major role in putting the club back on its feet with first team manager Ian Brown also a leading light.

“We are a great advert to other clubs,” said Fox.

“The easy way would be to pay your way to promotion. This can be done by bringing in the best players, but it opens you up to financial problems.

“Our budget is low and some of the players who were in the team and played so well at Portman Road were playing for nothing.

“It’s not all about money.

“It’s about having the right people, and Ian Brown is a prime example of that.

“And the players have done all that has been asked of them showing the right spirit and attitude.”

Monday’s win after playing with 10 men for an hour meant a lot to a Whitton-raised former player who received plenty of accolades during his professional career.

“I could see what it meant to the lads, and I know what it meant to the club,” added Fox. “And I’m really happy for both. And it also meant a great deal to me.

“For what we have – and are – achieving at Whitton we have not received the credit we deserve.

“We don’t own our own ground and therefore do not get any lottery help, or any assistance of that nature.

“What finance we bring in we achieve ourselves.

“We have a thriving youth academy going and there is a lot going on at the club.”