NONE of Worcester City’s players will be tied to a contract next season, according to joint manager John Snape.

But Snape insists he wants his summer signings to be at City for “three years” as they look to climb back up the non-league pyramid.

Worcester have 10 new recruits and also retained the services of full-back Tyler Weir and striker Joe Bates for the Midland League Premier Division season.

But cash-strapped City appear to be tightening their purse strings for the upcoming campaign as they aim to “break even” next year.

“We can sign hundreds of players but if you are not in the 16 you are not getting paid,” Snape said.

“There will be nobody on contract. We can’t do it and we don’t want to do it.

“I don’t want to stop any player going forward but we want our kids to stay at the football club.

“The idea of signing the lads is because we want them here for three years so hopefully they can progress the club and the fans can get used to them.”

City’s pre-season has often been disrupted with many players coming and going and late deals being made ahead of the season.

“It was not the board’s fault we had to change seven or eight players every year,” Snape said.

“I can relate to a chat I had with the Halesowen manager. I asked him how many have you signed. He said none.

"I said your first friendly is next week but he replied it is a waste of time me trying to sign them now because all the big clubs take them.

“Then they wait two weeks before the start of the season before throwing them out and that’s when you can start getting the better players at the club.

“He said that makes it hard to work on shape but that’s the way they have got to do it.

“Fortunately we don’t have to do that as we have got a good nucleus of players to give us a good start.”

Worcester held trials for the first team and under 21s side involving almost 100 players.

Although impressed with their efforts Snape said there were only “three or four” who he and joint manager Lee Hughes were interested in taking a closer look at.

“There was one lad who played 12 minutes and threw up all over my trainers,” Snape said.

“He was on his knees as he gave his all and wanted to play for the club.

“We only highlighted about three or four players but they were from other clubs around the area.

“We have got better lads we can bring through here. We have said we are going to stick with what we have got.

“But the proof will be in the pudding for our local players.”

City continue their pre-season friendlies at Pershore Town on Saturday (3pm).