Blues launch drive to avoid drop

Whitby Town are considering dropping back down to the Northern League unless attendences start showing signs of improvement.

Blues manager Darren Williams takes his Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division side to Guiseley in the FA Trophy's Third Qualifying Round on Saturday with the Seasiders hoping to bounce back from their 2-0 home defeat at the weekend to second placed Hednesford.

Nearly 300 fans saw the reverse at the Turnball Ground after the Blues launched a fresh drive to attract supporters by admitting Under 16s for free and Under 18s for £2.

The discounts run until the end of the campaign and on Wednesday Whitby Town Chairman Graham Manser issued a rallying call to supporters to get behind the team through their local paper, The Whitby Gazette & Herald.

The Chairman told the newspaper's website that crowds had dropped this season and warned that if they don't start going up a return to Northern League football is a serious option the Blues would have to weigh up.

He said: "The club are run by volunteers and if we drop down a couple of divisions like Durham City did last season, the work-load will reduce a lot for the small band of volunteers."