JOHN Snape dropped the broadest hint yet that he would be staying on as Worcester City manager after gaining assurances the club “will have a budget for next season”.

Snape’s hopes of plotting a path to promotion were thrown into turmoil after chairman Anthony Hampson indicated City could go “fully amateur” next term.

However, the club announced last week that it would be retaining semi-professional status beyond the end of the current campaign in spite of dwindling resources to finance a proposed new stadium at Parsonage Way.

Snape confirmed talks had started over plans for 2018-19 but stressed the importance of City’s quest to go up taking precedence for now.

“I am always in contact with the board, we have worked closely all season and I have a very honest and open relationship with them,” said Snape.

“The only problem I have is the disappointment that things behind the scenes have been thrashed out in the paper.

“I don’t think that is good publicity for the club and I am on about everyone involved — from the supporters’ trust through to the board members and management team.

“I want to concentrate on the football from now until the end of the season. We are planning for the future but have an opportunity to finish well and be in the shake up for promotion.

“There have been conversations and early indications about budgets but I do not want to comment other than to say we will have a budget for next season.

“We haven’t sat down and got as far as saying it is the end of the world, that it is great or anything else. The reason for that is our focus is on the here and now.”

On his own future, Snape added: “If my services are still required, I would be looking to have a plan that I go through with the board before the end of the season.

“I haven’t really thought about it (the prospect of leaving), it has been dragged through the press which has been disappointing and I don’t want to do that again.

“This is a great club to work at despite the current circumstances and I am sure there would be a load of applications for the job if anything changed.

“I have a good relationship with the chairman and the board and it is one I would like to keep going in the future.”

Meanwhile, the manager admitted to having mixed emotions about the Midland League's decision to extend the season by nine days due the raft of postponements caused by adverse weather.

“It works for some teams and against others,” said Snape.

“I feel for the likes of Stourport Swifts and Rocester and extending the league season is great in one respect but does that help the finances? Nobody appears to have taken into consideration people who have booked holidays. They are things that will affect this club.

“There are pros and cons. There are no broken eggs though. It is what it is and we will abide by it."