MANAGER Carl Heeley says he has "no money in the pot" to bring players to cash-strapped Worcester City and admits he needs a "magician" to help him conjure up new recruits.

City’s boss has lifted the lid on the "continual struggle" to work with the budget at his disposal at the Vanarama National League North outfit.

Worcester sit just two points above the drop zone after an agonising 1-0 defeat to third-from-bottom Bradford Park Avenue at Bromsgrove’s Victoria Ground on Saturday.

They have also been hit by injuries to key players with skipper Danny Jackman (back), defender Tom Sharpe (knee) and wingers Micah Evans (calf) and Connor Hughes (knee) all on the treatment table.

Heeley said he had been “continually on the phone” trying to bolster his depleted squad but insisted it was “near-impossible” to get “players for free”.

And the former City captain admitted he found the search “very draining”.

“It is not straightforward to keep bringing players in,” said Heeley who paid an undisclosed fee to sign Hughes from FC Halifax Town on an 18-month deal in November and snapped up midfielder Jordan Keane from Nuneaton Town last month.

“I would absolutely love to have the opportunity some of the clubs in this division have but I have not got it.

“It is a continual struggle and it gets very draining. It’s hard work.”

With a long list of injuries and Sam Oji beginning his three-match suspension at the weekend, Heeley said they were “down to the bare bones” ahead of their clash against Avenue.

And the situation led them to call upon attacking midfielder Sean Geddes for a “one-off” game as he remains registered at City despite plying his trade at Sutton Coldfield Town.

Heeley will now be without banned top scorer Lee Hughes for Saturday’s home game against FC United of Manchester (3pm).

The striker will also miss Monday’s fixture at Curzon Ashton as well as trips to Alfreton Town and Gloucester City later this month.

“I would love to bring five players in but I have not got the resources to do it,” said Heeley whose side have been in exile since 2013.

“If you know a magician who can get something for nothing, give me a shout.

“When I am continually on the phone, scrambling around for players for free, believe you me it is near-impossible.

“Yes, I have got irons in the fire, I always have, but unfortunately we have got no money in the pot to bring them in.

“The day people realise and start understanding instead of asking stupid questions every week we might actually make some inroads.

“If we had the budget we would be full-time. We would be an AFC Fylde or a Kidderminster Harriers and we would have our own ground.

“But we have to make the most of what we have got.”

City have the option to recall winger Nathan Olukanmi, centre-back Kieran Morris and versatile Jamie Smith who are on dual-registration deals at Leamington, Stafford Rangers and Droitwich Spa respectively.

Young striker Joe Bates is also out on loan at Bishop’s Cleeve.

But Heeley added: “These players are all available to us but we have got to pay them.

“They don’t come for nothing. We can’t keep paying players so it is tough.”