Farnborough FC

There's snow other way - Farnborough must play

By Jon Couch
January 17, 2013

SPENCER DAY is praying the white stuff will stay away from Cherrywood Road this weekend - or he may be forced to release two more of his first-team squad.

Snow being forecast for the south east on Friday is already casting doubt on Farnborough's home clash with Bath City the following afternoon.

Day has already been forced to release midfielder Medi Abalimba to balance the books following the arrival last week of loanee Dean Inman and playmaker Scott Donnelly on a short-term deal.

But if Saturday's game does fall victim to the cold snap as many expect, then the “serious financial implications” of that will leave the boss with little choice but to trim his squad further - even though his team are sitting pretty in the Blue Square South play-off places.

Day said: “It’s insane that I have to let these players go. These are all fantastic players who should be in my squad, and indeed my team, but money talks I’m afraid.

“Our success on the field has blinded a lot of people. We are the Portsmouth of the Blue Square South, we have no money, nowhere else to train but the pitch, we have only four team coaches all season and only half the team have training kit, but because we are doing well on the field people think it's rosy and it’s the complete opposite.

"The fact is I have to off-load three players, I need to reduce the wage bill.

"This is a very difficult thing to do because I am very conscious of how tight this division is and how easily we could be drawn into a relegation battle.

"There are just seven points between second-bottom and fifth - that's nothing with half a season to go."

Saturday's sound 5-2 victory over high-fliers Dover Athletic topped a positive week for Day, who not only ended on-going negotiations to re-sign Inman on loan from Hampton & Richmond Borough until the end of the season, but also surprised everyone by adding ex-Aldershot Town favourite Donnelly to the ranks.

Day revealed the club had to “beg, borrow and steal” to pay the Inland Revenue an overdue debt last week and, in turn, lift another transfer embargo imposed on the club.

The result was the return of fans' favourite Inman on Friday after Hampton agreed to re-issue the loan, which does not have a recall clause inserted.

Donnelly, meanwhile, came as a result of two weeks of negotiation following the midfielder’s release by neighbours Aldershot Town and an unsuccessful loan spell at Southend United.

The 25-year-old former Swansea City and Wycombe playmaker, is looking to gain first-team football and fitness before making an imminent return to the Football League.

Day explained: “Scott’s freshened things up a bit and given us a real boost. He’s cost us next to nothing and he’s a great lad, I just hope we can keep him for as long as possible.”

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