Horsham's £15,000 gamble looks to have paid off as the club prepare to return to the town.

The Ryman League’s decision to promote Horsham YMCA means Hornets can now groundshare with their old neighbours at Gorings Mead from next season.

Horsham invested the money in new stands to bring Gorings Mead up to Ryman premier standards but were left sweating on YM’s final position in the County League.

Now, despite finishing third, the Ryman League will invite them to return to division one south a year after they were relegated.

Horsham boss John Maggs believes his club will benefit on and off the field.

He said: “It’s going to make a big difference. Hopefully our crowds will come back and although it’s too early to say what effect it will have on the playing side it will only make it better.

“It will be easier for the players from London and Croydon and hopefully we can keep a lot of the squad from last season.

“Commercially it is good for the club. It is hard work out there with the recession but I lost a lot of sponsors last year because they felt they wouldn’t get any benefit from when we played at Worthing so hopefully we can welcome them on board.”

Defender Sam Page, who missed much of last season because of injury, is the only player under contract for 2009-10 and Maggs will begin discussions with other members of the squad in the next fortnight.

Meanwhile, Horsham’s long-serving former chairman Frank King has stepped down after 29 years on the club’s board.

King, a fan of the club for over 50 years, said: “It has been a lifelong pleasure and privilege for me. Horsham has been a key part of my life since I was the age of some of the young people we now have following the team and my interest and enthusiasm for the club remains undiminished.”

David Hillier has resigned as chairman and will be replaced by Kevin Borrett, who joined the board last year.