ANDY Preece admits he is "a bit disappointed" with Worcester City's spending budget for next season.

The St George's Lane boss claims the budget at his disposal does not reflect his ambition to secure promotion from Nationwide North.

A month before pre-season training resumes at City, Preece wants at least three "quality" players to challenge for honours.

But, following talks with chairman Dave Boddy, he insists the budget will not allow it, although there is enough to accommodate a new right wing-back and a second signing.

Although the budget is improved from 2005, Preece believes the income generated from last season's FA Cup run and five-figure sale of Sam Wedgbury should have allowed City to loosen the purse-strings.

"I thought the budget would have been better," said Preece. "Especially after the money that was brought in through the FA Cup and selling Sam.

"I'm just a bit disappointed that it's not happened. The chairman knows how I feel about it. At the moment, it is very, very tight bringing in two quality players. I feel we need another one on top of that. I'm not asking for a great deal more.

"We do want to win the league and I'm not saying we cannot do it with the budget.

"But I would back us a lot more if we could get that little bit more strength in depth."

Preece believes City are falling behind in the budget-stakes compared to Nationwide North rivals.

He added: "People say not to worry about other teams. But you have to look around and compare. Quite a few teams are making a real go of it for next season."

Chairman Boddy declined to comment.

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