Peter Jackson today admitted that City’s emotional ties to Valley Parade won’t pay the bills.

The club are facing an uncertain future after conceding that they cannot afford the stadium overheads while stuck in League Two.

If attempts to reduce the rent fail, they would have to consider an alternative home – with Odsal the most likely destination.

It would be a heart-wrenching decision to walk out on the ground where 56 people died in the 1985 fire. But Jackson, who was City’s captain on that fateful afternoon, believes they would be left with no choice.

He said: “Obviously there is a lot of sentimentality because of the fire. I was captain that day, Mark Lawn was here as a supporter and I can understand anybody who was involved will have very strong feelings.

“But look at it logically and we are struggling to pay. If that’s the case, you’ve got to look at other options.

“We might have to move away. Hopefully it won’t happen but it might do. It’s no good if we simply can’t afford to be here. The club will never recover.”

The interim chief is already feeling the effects of the board’s belt-tightening measures.

Defender Lewis Hunt is again out of his plans at Southend tonight because the club will not meet a wage clause in his contract – and City are travelling there and back to Essex without a hotel stopover.

See full story in today's Telegraph & Argus