Bees boss Katie Eleftheriou insists the club will be back icing in the English Premier League next season – but it will be another fortnight at least before an announcement is made about any of the current squad returning.

Eleftheriou is determined to avoid a repeat of the money problems Bees faced under her predecessor David Taylor when players were not paid and the club’s whole future was put in jeopardy.

Backed by £27,000 in fans’ donations last December, she led a consortium that stepped in to save Bees after estate agent David Taylor withdrew his financial backing.

And future sponsorship deals will be vital to keeping the club going.

Eleftheriou said: “I have a few irons in the fire, but I cannot say anything at this stage. It will be a couple of weeks.

“We are planning a sponsorship evening on April 24 and we should have a fair idea where we stand after that.”

Dwight Parrish has indicated he would like to continue as player-coach after overcoming a difficult first season in charge by guiding Bees to their EPL Cup triumph, third place in the league, and the Championship finals.

When asked if she was happy with Parrish’s efforts so far, Eleftheriou said: “Absolutely.”

But she added that contract renewals are dependent on ‘ongoing negotiations’.