FLACKWELL Heath play Highmoor Ibis in the Reading Sernior Cup on Saturday, but the challenge of reaching the final at the Madejski Stadium is the least of their obstacles.

Simply to remain in the Hellenic Premier League next season – they are currently eighth after 2-0 and 2-1 wins over Pegasus and Marlow United this week – they will need to fork out more than £20,000 during the summer.

First they need to renew the floodlights at a cost of £18,000, and a further £6,000 must be found for the pitch perimeter fencing.

Manager Matt Flint has been told he will have a ‘significantly reduced’ budget and already the players’ expenses have been cut.

He said: “It’s no one’s fault and the club is doing all it can, but I was in this for the long run, working on the theory that we’d get through this season and then regroup. I think everyone will have to have a rethink now.”

However, chairman Geoff Turner says the club is simply cutting its’ cloth accordingly.

He said: “We don’t have financial problems, we have financial priorities.

“We have the unconditional backing of our club sponsor and we’re still paying our players’ travelling expenses.

“I don’t think we will lose any of them and I hope Matt stays too because he’s a personal friend, but he is only concerned with the playing side of it, and that’s his brief.”

Seven-day approaches have come in for some of the Flackwell Heath players, but Flint expects to keep his squad.