Carter fears another casualty

AFC Telford chairman Lee Carter has fears for the health of Blue Square Bet North football - predicting the cold snap could force another club out of business.

Ilkeston Town have already folded this season, with Carter estimating that the resulting loss of fixtures left a hole of up to £10,000 in the Bucks' budget.

But the likes of Redditch, Hinckley and Worcester have all had their financial woes.

And Carter believes it would be no surprise if the continuing big freeze did not prove the final nail in the coffin for another side sooner rather than later.

All fixtures in the league scheduled for Saturday - including Telford's trip to Blyth Spartans - were postponed.

"This cold snap will test clubs' resources to the limit because it's the second year on the bounce that we've had an extended period of not being able to play football," said Carter.

"Clubs are not really prepared for this kind of weather - but who at this level can afford covers in this day and age?

"I really worry whether we'll finish the season with 21 clubs - I'm almost certain another one will go to the wall."

Telford cut their budget in the summer and their chairman revealed that they are currently coping well.

They have also been boosted by a grant of £1,000 issued to every club to help compensate for Ilkeston going out of business.

"It's a generous gesture and very much appreciated," said Carter.

"We're ahead of where we need to be in terms of income against budget but it would only take one more postponement to change that and all of a sudden we'd be back to having to work very hard to make the sums work."