MANAGER Carl Heeley says he’s seen the “pitfalls” of having a squad of veterans and unproven players at Worcester City this season.

Worcester’s Vanarama National League North campaign will come to end on Saturday when they take on AFC Fylde at Aggborough (3pm).

But Heeley says work to uncover “what has gone wrong” this term has already begun after sealing their place in the division last Saturday.

Heeley revealed that talks were underway with City’s board about next season’s playing budget.

Ex-professionals Lee Hughes, 39, Deon Burton, 39, Ashley Vincent, 30, Clayton McDonald. 27, and Shaun Harrad, 31, all joined in the summer, while former Stoke City defender Wayne Thomas, 36, returned to the club after a short stint coaching in America.

Worcester have also brought in talented teenagers Shaun Donnellan, 19, Jordan Murphy, 19, and Ethan Ross, 19, on loan.

But having struggled to stave off the threat of relegation for much of the season, Heeley hinted City may look at doing things differently next term.

“We need to analyse what has gone wrong (this season),” he said.

“I would love to go and find a squad full of Conference North winners - it is not as if we don’t know them.

“Solihull have won the league, but the players they signed in the summer were all targets of ours, but the bottom line is we can’t afford them, so we have to try and do it a different way.

“You get your experienced players and compliment that with young inexperienced lads and try and balance the books.

“But after 41 games, you can see the pitfalls of it with a lack of availability and the number of problems we have had to deal with.”

According to the club’s latest accounts, City spent £287,408 on wages and expenses this year, which is £11,748 more than last year and £93,972 more than in 2014.

Heeley confirmed “preliminary discussions” have taken place with the club’s directors about giving him a budget which he believes will give his side, who will be playing their home games at Bromsgrove Sporting’s Victoria Ground next season, a “fighting chance” of retaining their status.

“We have been wanting to talk about next season for the last month, but until you know what league you are going to be in, you cannot take anything for granted,” Heeley said.

“So now let’s analyse it, let’s analyse individuals and let’s have a look at whether that individual could give a different dynamic with a different group of players and then we will make those decisions.

“But as for whether we make wholesale changes or whether certain individuals go or stay, that’s not a conversion for now, it is a conversation for the next month.”

Heeley added: “You could say there are players here that are on a bit of money, but it is a bit of money compared to what players are on at other clubs.

“You can make a call on what you think is a respectable wage for a club like Worcester City, but it is what you are competing it with and if you look at the league table after 42 games it will tell you a story.”