JOINT managers John Snape and Lee Hughes have been given a “very competitive budget” by Worcester City’s board in a bid to challenge for promotion next season.

The management duo have been busy putting their squad together in preparation for their first season in Midland League Premier Division.

The cash-strapped club have dropped three levels into the ninth tier of English football after resigning from the National League where they struggled to match other team’s wage bills.

Although City’s bosses have spoken of the need to protect their remaining funds while they are in exile, Snape admits they got enough funds to launch a title bid.

“The main aim for us is to give the football club a solid foundation on the pitch and, in the meantime, ensure that we have a home somewhere in Worcester and get the backing which will give us a fighting chance,” Snape said.

“We have to put measures in place to give us a chance to keep the club going.

“To be fair to the board they have given us a very competitive budget where we can challenge for honours.

“The idea is if we can gain promotion hopefully we will get an influx of crowds at home and have the added bonus of people sponsoring players which has gone down very well do far.

“Hopefully with the local lads coming in it can bring us more income through gates to take the club forward.”

Evesham United boss Paul Collicutt claims City's budget would also be "very good" for the division above.

The higher-graded Robins reached the play-off semi-finals last season in Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West.

"Worcester City are offering a very competitive budget for the league they are in and it would be very good for our league too," said Collicutt.

“I have been approached by two or three of their players and Worcester are still offering half-decent money.

"They will have the biggest budget for the league they are in if I am hearing things correctly.

“Worcester City are still a big club but the league they are going into is tough with just one promotion place.”

Hereford-based Westfields also claim City have been offering the league’s best players the biggest wages.

Manager Sean Edwards said: “We have to look at our whole budget and we are not splashing out the sort of money Worcester City will do.

"There are big teams in this league and we need to make sure we spend our money wisely as we only pay expenses.

"It is like having another Hereford FC coming into the league.

"Worcester are going to expect 500 fans or more if they are doing well and if they are spending near the budget they are going to get the best players at this level.

“A lad I went for told me that he couldn’t refuse the offer that they (Worcester) had made him."

Edwards added: "There wasn’t really a place for Matt (Gwynne) this season and there was no point trying to keep two first-class goalkeepers happy.

"We like to play out from the back which suits Keiron (Blackburn) more than Matt.”

Malvern Town’s prolific striker Dave Reynolds became Worcester’s 10th summer signing this week.

They have also recruited goalkeeper Gwynne, Nathan Hayward, Jamie Smith, Matt Birley, Brad Birch, James Baldwin, Josh Harris-James, Aaron Griffiths and Albert Alexandru.