Worcester v Halifax preview

Football - FC Halifax Town v Worcester at the Shay. Josh Wilde and Tom Denton

For the last four seasons the club has been playing away from its home city, and in a statement issued by the board recently, they said this has increased costs and reduced their chance to generate income. The board also predicted the club would incur “a further significant loss” this year after struggling to make ends meet since moving out of Worcester.

Worcester sold its St George’s Lane ground to a housing developer and planned to use the money to fund a new stadium, but didn’t have enough money to go through with the plan.

They have since played at Kidderminster’s Aggborough stadium and are this season playing at Bromsgrove’s Victoria Ground.

They hope to build a new ground in the city centre, but are waiting for approval from the city council.

There has been speculation the club will apply for voluntary relegation from the National League North, and rumours that some players are not being paid.

Long-serving boss Carl Heeley, who kept Worcester in the sixth tier for seven successive seasons and also led them to the second round of the FA Cup in 2014 after beating Coventry City, resigned at the end of January.

Earlier this month the club put their whole squad up for sale, and have already sold star striker Lee Hughes to Telford and winger Micah Evans to Altrincham.

Caretaker-manager John Snape has been in charge for their 1-1 draw with Tamworth and their 3-0 defeat at Harrogate, and is expected to remain in charge for the visit of Halifax, although it is understood the club could lose another couple of players before the game.

Worcester have scored just twice in their last seven games and have only scored more than one goal in a game in one of their last 14 outings.

They have just one win in their last 14 matches, with their last victory coming on November 28.

Halifax beat them 3-0 at The Shay back in August, with goals from Tom Denton, Josh Wilde and Kevin Roberts.

Only Fylde and Darlington have scored more goals in the league than Halifax, who have not conceded a goal in five hours and 15 minutes of football.

Nathan Hotte is still another couple of weeks away from a return to action, while Josh Macdonald could be involved on Saturday, although the game may come a little too soon for him.

It will be Daniel Nti’s final game for the club before his loan expires, unless it is renewed.