SEAGULLS boss Andy Gurney has appealed to Westonians to support their team at Saturday's clash with AFC Wimbledon.

SEAGULLS boss Andy Gurney has appealed to Westonians to support their team at Saturday's clash with AFC Wimbledon.

A bumper crowd is expected at the Woodspring Stadium for the game against the league leaders, with a large away following expected to travel from south London.

And the manager wants the people of Weston to turn up to the Blue Square South fixture to ensure the home side is well backed in a game that could set the a record attendance.

He said: "It will be great to see the ground with a few more people in it and hopefully the people of Weston will come out to support us as well.

"We are trying to get more people through the turnstiles and we play some good football.

"I know the people who have been coming in recent weeks have been happy with what they've seen and I hope Saturday's game, and the fact that it's Wimbledon, will encourage many more people to come along."

After two disappointing seasons for Weston Gurney took over in November and has made several astute moves in the transfer market to assemble the strongest squad in the club's history.

Skilful striker Manny Williams, solid full-back Tom Parrinello, battling midfielder Adrian Harris and experienced utility man Scott Bartlett have all joined the ranks.

However, after attendances increased last season, the improvements have not been maintained and recent home games have attracted less than 300 supporters.

Gurney added: "It has been a difficult couple of seasons for the fans and when you're at the bottom attendances are bound to drop off, but I'd like to see more people at the games."

Gurney told the Mercury he wants the club to progress to the Blue Square Premier in the next few years and eventually to become a league club.

He said: "It's not a short-term project. In the longer term we have big plans.

"It won't happen over night and the main thing at the moment is to make sure we are comfortable this season.

"One of the ways we can move forward is to get the town behind the club.