AN FA Vase run represents Worcester City’s best chance of avoiding losses totalling “a little bit more” than last season’s £20,000 deficit.

That’s the verdict of chairman Steve Goode after the homeless club slashed its shortfall from £71,135 during the previous year to £20,722 in accounts posted for up to the end of May 2019.

Budgets had already been put in place when a fan-led group of directors came in following the departure of then-chairman Anthony Hampson in August 2018.

Measures to reduce costs and increase sponsorship followed with Goode acknowledging that then-manager John Snape had helped tighten the purse strings by not using the full amount of his playing budget once it became clear City would not be in the promotion shake-up.

But the City chief has warned that maintaining a push towards the target of a break-even position is unlikely while waiting to return to Worcester, placing greater emphasis on tomorrow’s rescheduled FA Vase second round clash at home to Dunkirk (Wednesday, 7.45).

Victories over Wellington, Highgate United and Pinchbeck United have yielded £2,100 in prize money to date with another £900 up for grabs at the Victoria Ground if Ashley Vincent's men can reach the last 64.

“We will most probably lose a little bit more than last season, the reasons being we are not in Worcester and we are struggling more on the sponsorship side,” said Goode.

“The results have not been brilliant for us but luckily the supporters are still coming. We could do with another 50 on the gate every week and if that happened we would probably be a lot closer to our aim.

“I would love to say we could break even and if we were in Worcester we would be making money, I would guarantee that.

“That’s the big issue, and with the weather set to change now I think our gates will go down a touch. Every season we are away from Worcester it gets harder and harder.

“We do have this FA Vase game which is absolutely massive for the club and if we can win that it keeps the interest going.

“A good run could mean a break-even season, that’s how important it is but whatever happens we will keep working as hard as we can to get as close as possible to that.”

On last season’s accounts, Goode added: “Although we made a loss I was pleased, when we became involved we said we would look after the accounts and we have done that.

“The loss is more in line with where we are, the sooner we get back to playing in Worcester the better because the losses will continue while we play out of the city.

“We are working with what we have. We are trying to keep the fanbase and that’s important, we need them to carry on supporting us and understand the position we are in.

“We have set wage structures and budgets in place which we do not go over.

“John Snape was under budget when he was manager so we clawed back some money there. People wanted us to spend that money but John’s attitude was why waste it when we were not going up or down.

“The Gold Bond helped a lot but has been struggling, we need people to join and we are trying to push that.

“Gates also went up for a period of time but it (the reduced loss) was mainly due to managing the accounts. Andy Jones (company secretary) marshals the finances really well and keeps us informed on a weekly basis with incomings and outgoings.

“Over the season there were no real issues because we stayed within budget, sometimes by £200-300.

“Sponsors stepped forward too but the biggest problem on that front is that we don’t have much to offer a massive backer, we depend on the fans who have supported us over the years to keep putting in that little bit extra.”

Victory for City would set up a home tie with either Shepshed Dynamo or Cadbury Athletic – that rescheduled clash takes place tonight (Tuesday) – in the third round, a fixture that would take place on the weekend of Saturday, November 30.

Landlords Bromsgrove Sporting have a home league fixture scheduled for the Saturday and would take priority.