Hampton & Richmond Borough chairman Steve McPherson has assured fans an indifferent start to the season will not see the playing budget trimmed at the Beveree.

Assistant coach Dudley Gardner believes some of the club’s Blue Square South rivals are set to slash their playing budgets come the new year should they be out of the race for honours - with the likes of Lewes already reportedly up against it.

But McPherson, who conceded the first team squad had been shaved in the light of the return to fitness of the likes of Craig Tanner and Ian Hodges, reckons that will be far from the case at Station Road.

“Alan has a budget to work within and that hasn’t changed. We had various injuries and suspensions at the start of the season and squad had grown to cover that,” he said.

“People look at players leaving and fear the worst. There was a squad of around 27, but with people leaving we are now back to the size squad we had budgeted for at the start of the season.

“Players that have gone have left for their own reasons.

“These are economically difficult times and we are always looking to get new sponsors in, every six to 12 months you go through a process of re-examining your operation costs and that is simply what we are doing.

“We are looking at re-negotiating various contracts with various suppliers to see how we can reduce running costs. That is nothing to do with the playing side of things.”

The Beavers have seen Jamie Collins, Jon MacDonald and Graham Harper quit the club in recent weeks, while Dave Tarpey and Dean Inman have returned from successful loan spells.

Devonshire’s side, who were knocked out of the FA Cup by Ryman League Premier Division Sutton United last month, have suffered an indifferent start to the season to sit comfortably in mid-table.

But McPherson, who has helped oversee a period of unprecedented success under the West Ham United legend, insists it is nothing more than a blip and a run to the play-offs is still very much on the cards.

“We’ve started a little bit slowly, but we are pretty happy with where we are at the moment. Two or three wins in a row and everything changes in this league,” he added.

Hampton’s clash with Havant & Waterlooville was postponed at the weekend due to the recent bad weather.

Hampton’s next three games: Nov 21 Concord Rangers (FAT, h), 24 Welling United (a), 28 TBA.