Shropshire racehorse trainer David Flood is ready to walk away from the sport – claiming he is in financial trouble due to owners failing to pay their bills.

Flood, 41, operates out of Helshaw Grange, near Market Drayton, having returned to the business after serving a two-year ban for a doping offence.

But he now believes he will have little option but to quit if he cannot find new investment in a matter of days.

“I’ve been left with bad debts of £20,000-£22,000 and if I can’t find new investment by the end of next week, I would say that’s the end of me,” said Flood.

“I’ve been walking round the racecourse like a zombie for the last few days after I started to realise I wasn’t going to get paid for these horses.

“For trainers trying to establish themselves, unless they’ve got a lot of capital behind them it’s nearly impossible.

“In my case, re-establishing myself, it’s the same thing, a vicious circle – you don’t get paid, you don’t have good horses, you don’t get winners, you’re just not going to go anywhere.”

Flood had looked destined to have an illustrious career before his ban after high-profile successes with Im Spartacus and Jonny Ebeneezer.

But since his return he has saddled just five winners and his initiative this year – aimed at encouraging wealthy monaco residents to support his operation – has failed to pay off.

Now he is praying for a miracle cash injection from somewhere to allow him to continue.

“I am operating off a shoestring budget as it is,” he added. “And to be hit like this is just terrible.

“I will be heartbroken if I have to give up training, but I can’t go on unless I find new investment.”

By CHRIS HUDSON