TOWN'S board must give some ground in the battle with Neil Ruddock if Andy King is to have any hope of bringing in new players.

Chief executive Mark Devlin has been told by the Professional Footballers' Association that the club must make a 'tangible' loyalty bonus offer to Ruddock before they will consider lifting the current embargo.

The club's chief executive was given a sympathetic hearing by the Football League on Monday but only the blessing of the players' union will be enough to lift the embargo.

Devlin spoke to PFA official Mick McGuire yesterday and said the union's position was very clear.

He said: "Clearly the PFA is going to back their member but the impression I received was that if we as a board made a tangible offer to Neil then they would encourage him to play ball.

"Obviously, this will need further discussion with the whole board. However, even if we do make an offer to Neil, in whatever form, there are no guarantees.

"The PFA can encourage him to follow a course of action but they cannot force him to do anything."

Devlin admitted a successful outcome was unlikely before Saturday's game with Oldham, leaving Andy King and Steve Coppell to soldier on with their existing squad.

It is a busy time for Devlin with a court case against Swindon Town Properties Limited looming in the High Court next week.

The current board hope a judge can be persuaded to issue an injunction to prevent STPL from calling in a £1.2 million debenture.

If Devlin and his colleagues fail, it could leave the way for former chairman Danny Donegan (a director of STPL) to call in receivers and ultimately force the closure of the club. But next week's case is just one strand of legal proceedings being carried out.

A separate action to recoup monies spent during the previous board's regime (including the deal agreed for Neil Ruddock's contract) is also being pursued.

On the playing side, questions remain over Steve Coppell's links with the club.

The Evening Advertiser understands the former Brentford and Crystal Palace boss will continue in the short-term but it is far from certain that a prolonged stay is on his agenda.

On the day he arrived at the club, Coppell stated that he didn't want the Town job and was not a 'predatory vulture'.