TOWN chief executive Pete Rowe has admitted that it is proving a struggle to pay the players' wages on time.

For almost two months, the club has been rudderless with Mr Rowe and director of football Roy Evans running the day-to-day affairs at the County Ground.

The departure of Danny Donegan and Ian Blatchley and the inability of the rival consortium to take over until December 7 has left the club with a serious cash flow problem.

No board of directors has meant no income and Mr Rowe has been left with a serious juggling act to perform.

With the club reported to be losing around £120,000 a month, it is becoming an increasingly difficult struggle for the chief executive.

It has literally been a case of shaking the piggy bank and looking down the back of the County Ground sofa.

He said: "It is true that it is proving a challenge to find the money for the players wages this month but I'm confident that we can find a solution by the weekend when they are due to be paid.

"All the other club staff have been paid on time, but our present situation means that finding revenue is becoming increasingly difficult.

"I am pursuing a number of options, including contacting the Professional Footballers' Association and everything that can be done is being done."

Mr Rowe said he had appealed to both Mr Donegan and the rival consortium for assistance to make up the shortfall but time was of the essence.

He said: "I think the situation is not altogether surprising when you consider the lack of funds coming in.

"I have always said it is important to be open and honest about what is going on to the supporters.

"I'm sure they can appreciate the position Roy and I are in.

"No-one is being kept in the dark and the players have been made aware of the situation."

Roy Evans faces another selection headache next month as Town's yellow cards continue to pile up.

Central defender Andy Gurney has now totted up 10 bookings for the season and the former Reading man will miss next Saturday's FA Cup tie with Hereford United, plus the following week's league clash with Huddersfield Town at the County Ground.