DEVIZES Town Football Club has been suspended until August 11 by Wiltshire Football Association but manager Dave Hopkins says has been kept totally in the dark about the off-the-field problems by chairman Chris Belcher.

Hopkins said this week he knew very little about a special disciplinary meeting held by the FA to discuss Devizes financial problems and the way the club was turned into a limited company. He had been told nothing about suspension.

"I know nothing about anything like that. I would expect to have been told if that was the truth," he said.

Hopkins tonight manages a North Wiltshire team that takes on the might of Bristol City at the Nursteed Road ground and has spent the past couple of weeks concentrating on organising this match and other pre-season friendlies and new signings.

"I spoke to the chairman on Sunday night but he did not mention anything about the FA meeting. We only spoke about the Bristol City game. If there is a major problem I have not been told anything about it."

The disciplinary commission, was held on July 7, at the FA headquarters in Swindon after a number of complaints were made about unpaid bills. There were also major concerns raised about the way the club was formed into a limited company without members being informed of a meeting in writing.

The commission, chaired by Richard Gardiner, has wide ranging powers and could refuse to allow the club affiliation if it has not put its house in order by the August 11 deadline.

This would mean the club would be unable to play in the Screwfix Western League and effectively be the end of it as a football outfit.

It is expected that around 1,000 people will turn out tonight to watch the Bristol City game and Belcher will be hoping the money generated by the crowd receipts and bar takings will help the club's perilous financial position. This match can go ahead as it is a representative team rather than a Devizes Town FC fixture.

Hopkins said he did not know how much of the takings would end up in the club's coffers. "I have not been involved in that side of things," he said. "The chairman has done a deal with Bristol City. I just hope a lot of people turn up at the ground to watch the match. The team is made up of a mixture of Devizes players, some from Corsham and some trialists who know there will be scouts watching."

The trialists, who have played as apprentices for the likes of Liverpool and Southampton, will be hoping to catch the eye of the scouts in time to be signed for the new season.

Hopkins is still hoping to make some signings of his own before the season starts and says despite the many rumours in connection with the club's cash crisis he is still hopeful of bringing the likes of striker Steve Campbell to the club.

Former town favourite, goalkeeper Paul Thompson, will not be returning as he has singed for Cirencester.

Hopkins has also spoken to one-time Devizes top goal scorer Barry Flippance but he is expected to stay at Pewsey.

Towards the end of last season Devizes was said to owe in the region of £35,000 and a number of creditors were threatening court action.

The club has been without a secretary since Roy King resigned at the end of last season. The treasurer is another former Trowbridge committee member Tony Moore.

Earlier this year President Phil Rossiter resigned from the board leaving just the Trowbridge contingent in charge,

Tomorrow night's game kicks off at 7pm.