JOINT-boss John Snape admits his quest to pep up Worcester City’s promotion bid with “one or two new faces” will probably lead to exits.

City’s chances of getting out of the Midland League at the first attempt got dented by a last-ditch 2-1 defeat at Heanor Town on Wednesday.

A result 24 hours earlier hardly helped with Coleshill Town regaining top spot courtesy of a 3-1 win at third-placed Sporting Khalsa.

Only the title winners are guaranteed to go up and while 12 of the runners-up from the 14 leagues at City’s level will join them Snape’s men trail second-placed Bromsgrove Sporting by six points having played one game more.

Worcester do still have 45 points to play for but the setback in Derbyshire, the club’s fifth in the Premier Division this season, has given the man in the dugout food for thought.

“The league paints a picture that does not make good viewing for us at the minute but we cannot start worrying about what other teams are or are not going to do,” said Snape.

“We have plenty of games left and we have to go out to collect as many points as we can to make sure we are in the mix.

"Wednesday’s result was disappointing but I have said on many occasions that there will be twists and turns.

"Perhaps we need one or two new faces.

"It will be tough to get anyone in before the weekend and I like to work with a player before putting him out there but if there is anyone who can make us better then we have to look at it.

“If someone comes in another will probably have to go out and that is a reality of football.

"Maybe we need that bit of a lift and we have a couple of irons in the fire.”

With recruitment unlikely prior to tomorrow’s trip to sixth-placed Coventry Sphinx (3pm), the squad seems set to be tested to its limits.

Keeper Nathan Vaughan (toe), Nathan Hayward (knee), Tyler Weir and Brad Birch (both ankle) will undergo assessments although Jamie Smith (illness) and Mat Birley (hamstring) should be ready to play a part.

“There are a few knocks,” added Snape.

“Nathan has been carrying his injury for a little while now but with the character of those four lads I think they will want to play.

“Sometimes they have played when perhaps they should not have so Lee (Hughes, joint-manager) and I will talk about that aspect of it too.”

Sphinx sacked their manager having lost 5-1 at the Victoria Ground in October and embarked on a 13-match unbeaten run in the league under new man Lee Knibbs.