ALCESTER skipper Andy Flynn has abandoned any lingering hopes of promotion after picking up one win from five matches.

Realistically speaking, even if we win all our remaining matches I don't think it would be enough, said the injured captain.

The flu-hit lock was missing at the weekend as Alcester went down 19-10 to Coventry Marconi, their fourth straight league defeat.

The skipper is set to return to the touchline on Sunday as Alcester visit Warwickshire Two side Ford Leamington in the Warwickshire Shield (ko 2.15pm).

And he is hoping for good news tomorrow (Thursday) when he returns to a specialist for the verdict on a long-term knee injury.

Flynn was forced out of the defeat to Coventry Welsh a month ago after injuring the knee he suffered cruciate damage to three years earlier.

He saw a specialist and was told to undergo physio for a month before returning tomorrow.

The club has banned lock Mark Kilbride for two weeks after his controversial sending-off against Manor Park, when the visiting skipper was accused of diving.

No date has been set for the RFU hearing and the ban starts at the weekend.

Prop Andy Foster returned to action after work commitments and skipper Paul Clarke and scrum half Scott Carmichael are expected to figure in the cup despite picking up knocks at the weekend.

Alcester are hoping for a run in the Shield after previously reaching the final and semi-final in the five-year-old competition. If they beat Warwickshire Two strugglers Leamington they face another trip to Marconi, who put them out of the Shield last season.