MONEY talks, and nowhere louder than in football where at times it positively screams.

In Worcester City's case it's the difference between muddying along in the Dr Martens Premier Division and hitting the heights of the ever-improving Nationwide Conference.

New chairman Dave Boddy takes over the role during a pivotal point in the club's history with an April deadline looming on the public inquiry into its proposed ground move to Nunnery Way.

"The bottom line is that we cannot afford to carry on suffering losses because the bank will only go so far with our overdraft," said Boddy.

"The major issue confronting us is the new ground which is coming up in the current financial year.

"If it gets the green light the serious work will start of working with property developers, architects and the whole process.

"If it goes against us we've probably got even more work to do and will have to look at other options.

"Privately we've got an idea of what we might do if it fails but hopefully it won't come to that."

Forty-year-old Boddy, a lifelong City fan, is targeting a return to the Conference but pleads for realism and patience from fans.

"For the majority of City's post-war history we've played in the top flight of non-league football and it is essential we get back there as quickly as possible. But we have to move at a realistic pace that finances dictate," added Boddy.

"We've got the support and infrastructure but we haven't got a wealthy benefactor like a lot of Conference clubs.

"We've got an historical debt that costs us £50,000 a year. That's a thousand off the playing budget straight away.

"The facilities we have got at the Lane don't lend themselves to generating cash as they do at Sixways for example which is why it's so important we move. If we have not got back to the Conference by the time we move to a new stadium then the extra income generated from such a move will help us get there."

Relocating to a purpose-built new stadium with its associated commercial opportunties will no doubt provide City with the means to bridge the financial gulf that separates them from the likes of Crawley, who boast a £200,000 five-year sponsorship deal..

While City were once a proud member of non-league's top flight it's now nearly 20 years since they last played in the Conference -- too long many would argue.

Graham Allner, George Rooney (twice), Martyn Bennett, Phil Lines, Ally Robertson, Doug Griffiths, John Jones and Ian Cooper have all tried and failed to win promotion, while debts totalling nearly £700,000 plus associated annual interest charges have not made it any easier for the present incumbent John Barton.

But Boddy insists the spirit and willing is there for the club to enjoy success.

"This club has been too long without success and the supporters have deserved greater success because the support level has been nothing short of phenomenal," he said.

"Unfortunately despite that great support nobody has got a divine right to be in the Conference. You are where you are and we're in the Dr Martens Premier and it's up to us to get to that next stage.

"Everybody is pulling in the right direction. I think there is a spirit within the club to win things and be successful -- that is important. John Barton feels he has got that within the dressing room and I sense there is a willingness and spirit throughout the club to get us there."