NORTHWICH Victoria owner Jim Rushe admits the club does not make enough money to continue paying its players.

So the Blue Square North outfit has transfer-listed all of them.

“There’s no panic and this is not been done on impulse,” he said on Monday.

“But the maths are simple; for whatever reason we are not attracting enough people through the turnstiles to watch the team play.

“The numbers are not high enough to support the wage bill.”

Last week just 451 – the lowest crowd to watch a home league match this season – were there to see Vics fall at home to Hinckley United just three days after more than 3,500 turned out for their televised FA Cup second round date with Lincoln City.

An average of 526 have been at the seven Blue Square North matches played at the Victoria Stadium since the start of the current season.

Rushe added: “It’s not that the manager is unhappy with any of the squad because he’s not. But we have to be realistic.

“I’ve always tried to keep people’s feet on the ground even through the euphoria of the FA Cup run.

“There will be no windfall for the football team.

“That doesn’t mean the success we enjoyed was not worth it. The money generated from those matches has enabled us to pay off more of our debts, which has to be the priority.”

Vics’ squad – not including loan players – is made up of 25 players.

Too many, according to the owner.

For the full story, pick up this week’s Northwich Guardian.