'We can stay up' in National League says Truro City owner Eric Perez

Truro City owner Eric Perez feels the club can avoid relegation from the National League this season.

The Tinners are in their first-ever campaign in the fifth tier after winning National League South last year.

They struggled for results in the first part of this campaign and were eight points from safety at the end of November after three wins from their first 21 games.

But an upturn in form in recent weeks has seen Truro take seven points from their last four games, leaving them second-from-bottom and four points from the relegation line.

"Of course we can stay up," Perez told BBC Sport.

"One thing about this side and this club in general, and Cornwall in general, is just belief.

"We believe that we can do anything we put our mind to and that was displayed last year when against all odds we won a league with clubs with much higher budgets than us.

"Now we're in the same situation again, albeit at a much higher level. Some say this is the biggest step up in the football pyramid, but I'm really proud of the way the boys have reacted and I think that results on the pitch are getting much more positive.

"We're on a bit of a good run right now. It's been broken up by a break, but I think the boys are ready to make a nice run here in the second half of the season and I believe we will stay up."

The club has brought in three new players since the start of January, as well as making Shaun Donnellan's loan move from Livingston a permanent arrangement.

Perez says there is funding available to bring in some more players, should the coaching staff feel they need it.

"There are a lot of factors that come into play, but we will do what the football staff feel is necessary to maintain the position," he added.

"People around the country need to understand Cornwall's full of palm trees and beaches, it's a great place to be, it's a great place to play football.

"We're pretty happy with what we have now. I think the recent signings, I think we'll see the proof of that on the pitch, and I think there may be one or two more along the way."

Perez and his Ontario Inc group have owned Truro City since November 2023.

In that time the club has built a new stadium and earned promotion to the National League.

Last month the group sold an 8.33% stake in the club to American investors Dawn Sports and Entertainment LLC , who also own the newly formed Oklahoma United FC, which plays in the National Premier Soccer League.

Perez says English football, even at National League level, is attractive to overseas investors who want to become involved in the sport.

"There isn't any shortage of interested parties trying to become a part of this journey," he said.

"It's been a storybook journey so far and I think a lot of people want to be part of it."

He added: "English football is on a massive rise in that regard.

"I think what you find is a lot of overseas investors, American, Canadian especially, really see the value in it almost more than people locally.

"Sometimes you can't see what you have when it's right in front of you and then you don't know what you've got until it's gone.

"I think that's why so many clubs have American and Canadian investors, we actually see the beauty of it.

"Sometimes when you're immersed in something you're jaded, you don't really see it, but we see it and we love it."

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