Halesowen Town are in financial crisis, manager and owner Morell Maison admits.

Just 16 months after former Villa and Albion boss Ron Atkinson was unveiled as part of Maison’s back-room team to herald a new era at the club, they kicked off with just 10 players in Tuesday’s 4-0 Worcestershire Senior Cup defeat at Evesham.

The British Gas Business Southern League premier division outfit have missed out on more than £100,000 of sponsorship, after businesses withdrew their funding due to the credit crunch. Atkinson left after three months.

Halesowen have used 47 players this season, but they are struggling to pay them and reportedly owe £15,000 to local businesses.

But Maison remains positive, despite the club losing six of their last eight games, with the one-time high-fliers down to sixth place.

He said: “I’ve never quit anything in my entire life but we’re in the worst financial situation I’ve experienced. We lost one of our major sponsors and then another at Christmas – and we’re talking in excess of £100,000.

“Our debts are not that severe and I would be very surprised if we were forced into voluntary administration. We’re not planning to go down that route, we are trying to progress and trying to move the club forward.”