By Peter McKinney

BROMSGROVE Rovers chairman Tom Herbert warned his players that they have to deliver promotion next season - or else.

The chairman is confident most of the squad that lost to Evesham United in the play-off final last week will return for next season and are strong enough to win automatic promotion from the Southern League Division One West.

However, Herbert has also warned the playing staff they have to perform next season.

He said: "I thought we had the players to finish in the top two this season, I still do.

"I have shown an awful lot of faith in some of the lads we have in the squad and it's about time they paid it back by getting us promoted."

The chairman's comment are set to infuriate Rovers fans, who feel that a squad which struggled for goals and finished fifth needs significant improvement.

However, the chairman was quick to add that manager Jimmy Mullen had the financial muscle to compete with other clubs in the division.

He said: "We have one of the biggest budgets in the league.

"The difficulty lies in attracting players from a higher level down to the Division One West."

Herbert though was quick to praise Mullen and his assistant Bernard Mackey, insisting if the former Sheffield Wednesday player had been in charge from the start of the season the club would have been promoted.

Mullen had been one of the contenders for the Rovers job after George Rooney left in May 2004.

However, the board chose Joe Jackson, who Mullen replaced in November after he quit the club because of a disagreement with Rovers' often outspoken chairman.

Herbert said: "I think if Jim had been in charge from the start it might have been a different story last season.

"But we can't look back on regrets, we've got him and Bernard now and there's no looking back."

Rovers are also searching to plug a £10,000 hole in their finances before the start of the 2005/2006 season, after the loss of one of their major sponsors - Phoenix Venture Holdings.

The company, which owns MG Rover, went into administration in April.

Rovers though announced that Banks's Brewery would be the club's main shirt sponsor for next season.

Herbert said: "Phoenix were one of our major sponsors but many companies are suffering from the collapse of Rover.

"It's great to have a big name like Banks's continue their commitment to us."