NEWLY-appointed joint managers Lee Hughes and John Snape “don’t know what level” Worcester City will be playing at next season.

The duo have agreed to join forces at the Blue and Whites who were relegated from Vanarama National League North last weekend.

Worcester are due to fall into either the Southern or Northern Premier Division – the seventh tier of English football.

But speculation is growing the cash-strapped club may drop one or even two divisions lower in a bid to survive in exile.

City’s board have yet to respond to the rumours, but say they need to play at an “affordable level”.

Snape says he hopes the situation can be resolved soon as he heads into the “busiest time of the year”.

“I think there will be developments over the next week,” Snape said.

“I don’t know the level we are going to play at.

“I know we have got a structure in place for several different levels and different scenarios that we have agreed with the board, so we know what we are working with in terms of finances.

“We have also highlighted players from different levels.

“But it is a little bit unknown for everybody including the board and the fans.

“We need to (get it resolved) as the fixtures are coming out and we want to crack on.”

Talks have started with last season’s squad over their futures, but many are likely to leave as the club cuts costs.

“The plan is to work within a budget and the players have got to fit to that for the good of the team,” Snape continued.

“We can’t make the minds up for the players.

“We can only offer them certain deals, so it is down to us to bring the right players to the football club.”

Snape says he will be looking to utilise Hughes’ contacts within the game having played for numerous Football League club.

But he insists he wants his team to be largely made up of local players and will be turning to Luca Gabriel, who is City’s head of youth development, for young talent.

“Lee has got contacts within the Football League and Luca is heavily involved with the youth side of the football club,” Snape said.

“The three of us will be putting our non-league knowledge together so we can hopefully get the team to play at a high standard using many local lads who really want it.

“This is the busiest time of the year for the next couple of weeks getting the right friendlies, setting up some trial games and obviously looking at the playing staff that we want to get involved at the football club.”