THERE is “no evidence whatsoever” to say Worcester City will take voluntary relegation, according to league chiefs.

Struggling City are in 19th position in Vanarama National League North, level on points with third-from-bottom Bradford Park Avenue.

But they face an almighty task to avoid the drop after the cash-strapped club decided to put all their players up for sale as they battle to stay afloat.

Speculation has been circulating City, who were thumped 3-0 at Harrogate Town on Saturday, have applied to be relegated.

But Colin Peake, media director for the league, quashed the rumours and insisted Worcester were meeting all the “requirements” and “obligations” to play at that level.

“We have read the statement that Worcester put out on Friday and obviously they are cutting their cloth accordingly,” he said.

“But they are functioning OK in the league and are meeting their requirements and obligations.

“So as far as we are concerned they are operating.

“What happens down the line is a matter for Worcester City, but at the moment we have not been advised anything other than what we have seen.”

Peake said Vauxhall Motors were the last club in the sixth tier to resign from the league due to financial difficulties in 2014.

“Vauxhall Motors decided they could no longer carry on financing the level of football that they were required to do,” he added.

“They indicated they would be resigning at the end of the season.

“But we have certainly got no evidence whatsoever that Worcester intend to do that.”

In City’s match-day programme for their clash against Tamworth earlier this month, chairman Anthony Hampson said: “One of the main issues with the league we are now playing in is the lack of budget caps on players wages and the weight of money coming in from the newer clubs that have entered this league.

“It makes it virtually impossible to compete at a level that is going to please everybody and we will need to wake up to that fact sooner or later.”

But he added: “The plus side to all this is our youth set up which is now the talk of the Worcestershire footballing community and all the hard work in this direction must not be underestimated.

“It will bear fruit for the club, is professionally run and gives the club a stream of young players ready to represent the club at all levels.”

The Worcester News has contacted the club several times to find out whether they are planning to take voluntary relegation.

But none of City’s board of directors have responded.