THE future of Swindon Town could be plunged into doubt again if crowds continue to plummet.

Chairman Terry Brady has warned that the club simply cannot survive on gates of 3,500 and could be dragged back into financial crisis if things don't improve.

The smallest crowd of the season, 3,452, turned up on Tuesday night to see Town beat Cambridge 3-1. It was their first win in five games and the gate was well below the budgeted figure of 7,500 and caused concern for Mr Brady.

He saved the club from extinction last summer after it had fallen into massive debt and was called in by administrators. The club has started to recover, but Mr Brady warns it would not take much to ruin all the hard work.

"Obviously, you cannot force people to come and watch football but it is clear that we only have a core support of about 3,000 to 4,000 and gates are struggling," he said.

"A lot of money has been thrown in to save this football club and a new team has been assembled but that could all be undone very quickly unless attendances improve.

"We could go back into administration very quickly. No club in the country can survive on attendances of less than 3,500 when they have the players and set-up that we have. Unless there is a big increase in support then we are going to struggle again financially."

Following Town is an expensive business. The match was Town's sixth game in 18 days, with previous away trips to Oldham, Swansea and Notts County all hitting the fans' pocket.

The added blow of seeing manager Colin Todd walk out must also have had an effect. But, Town chief executive Pete Rowe urged supporters to stick with the club.

"The message to those fans who did not turn up is stick with us because we are all working together to push this club forward.

"We have had a couple of reasonable performances lately and everybody is working hard behind the scenes to make Swindon Town a success. We are not giving up here.

"We have to re-build the wall after those blocks were knocked out when Colin Todd left. Andy and the boys want success on the pitch and we know that success on the pitch will lead to more people coming through the gates."

He said Tuesday's match alone was not enough to ruin the club, but added they would not survive on 3,500 every game.

Special prices have been arranged for the FA Cup First Round tie with Ilkeston to be played at Town on Saturday, December 9. Adults will be charged £10, concessions just £5 and children under 16 who are accompanied by an adult will pay only a £1.