ANDY Preece claims Worcester City's promotion hopes in the new campaign could suffer severely if beset by injury problems.

Due to the St George's Lane club's budgetary restraints, player-manager Preece does not anticipate assembling more than a 22-man squad during the close season.

It means numbers may be thin on the ground if City endure an injury-hit Nationwide North term.

Worcester were often hampered by injuries last season, with Danny McDonnell, Jai Stanley, Christian Moore, Mark Owen and Carl Heeley all sidelined for lengthy periods at various stages.

"We won't have one of the biggest squads in the league," said Preece. "So we will need quite a bit of luck with injuries and keeping players fit.

"As I've always said, the size of the squad all depends on the budget. It seems things might be a lot easier because I don't think the transfer window will be put in place next season.

"It means we can have a small squad and sign new players as we go along, if that's needed. But I don't see us having more than 22 players in the squad."

Competitiveness within Nationwide North looks set to strengthen next season with clubs already recruiting new signings in huge numbers.

Stalybridge Celtic and Hinckley United, both of whom ended last season's campaign in the bottom half of the table, have already set out their intentions by drafting in almost half a dozen players.

Former Carlisle United striker Preece is predicting plenty of fierce competition from those sides entering the league.

He added: "I think the league may be stronger than last season. Forest Green and Leigh RMI will be desperate to get back into the Conference after getting relegated. I played against Forest Green for Carlisle United so I know how they might play and they are bound to be up there.

"I don't know too much about the promoted sides. I know a bit about Hyde United because they are local to me and Workington are rivals to Carlisle."