ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman has warned that the Reds will struggle to survive as a league club unless their crowds improve.
Stanley have four home games next month and the club are desperate for the town to come out and support them after just 1800 turned up for their League Two opener at home against Darlington on Saturday.
"We need more fans for the club to survive," said Coleman, whose side travel to one of the promotion favourites Lincoln tomorrow. "We can't compete and survive on low crowds.
"You can do it at UniBond and Conference level but you can't do it as a League club - it costs a lot more just for the general running of the club, and that's off-the-field things and not the playing side.
"We need people through the turnstiles or else everyone's jobs at the club are under threat.
"We can't have a repeat of 1962 but it could happen if the fans don't come.
"It has been said before but we really need a big push for the town to get behind us.
"If they want to have a football club in the town, they need to support us."
Chairman Eric Whalley is equally frustrated after financing Stanley's return to the Football League following their resignation in 1962.
"We have the cheapest tickets in this league but for Bradford City," said the chairman, who took over the club in 1995.
"But we have had our lowest season tickets sales since we were in the UniBond League - just 115 adult season tickets sold and 117 concessions. I don't want to criticise anyone but we do need more fans if we are to survive.
"It is just so frustrating because it has taken a long time to get in the league - and we want to stay here.
"If they don't want to come then we might as well shut-up shop."
When the Reds played Leicester in the Carling Cup last week there were 1,200 Foxes fans - and the crowd was 2,029. Last Saturday, after a good start to the season, Stanley still had one of the lowest crowds in League Two.
But Coleman isn't going to let it put him off the immediate job in hand - bringing in new players, within his budget, ahead of next Friday's August 31 transfer deadline - and winning at Lincoln tomorrow.
He has added 18-year-old Preston striker Chris McGrail to his squad on a six month deal.
The teenager was with the Reds for two games last season but was at the centre of the "ineligible players" saga which led to the Reds getting a £12,000 fine - £6,000 suspended.
McGrail had come on "work experience" but players who play in the league need to have signed a professional contract - which he now has.
"It is good to have Chris back," said Coleman. "He is lively and bombs around all over the place. He is a good player and is a bundle of energy and has a bright future.
"I think we need two defenders and I am looking at a centre half at the moment."
The Reds did have ex-Blackburn defender Freddie Murray training with them but the former Northamption player has gone elsewhere.
"I was hoping to look at him in the reserve game on Wednesday night and might have offered him something but he has signed for a Scottish side and it wasn't to be," said the Reds boss.
"We have the August deadline but can still get loan players in after that so that might be the way forward."
But now the full focus is on Lincoln as the Reds look to continue their good away start - at Wycombe - and put their 3-0 loss to Darlington behind them.
"Hopefully we can continue the good work we started at Wycombe and keep it tight away from home and get a result," said Coleman.
"Last time we went there we never gave ourselves a chance as we were 3-0 down early on but hopefully it will be better this time.
"We have had them watched and we know all about them and they have some good players. But we know we have got to keep it tighter.
"I have watched the Darlington video and I am really disappointed with the first two goals which have killed us. They were both very avoidable.
"We have worked on it in training and we will try and put it right and make sure it doesn't happen again."
Midfielder Paul Carden is still absent as he battles with a calf injury.
"I hoped he would play in the reserves on Wednesday but it has taken longer than expected," said Coleman.
Leighton McGivern is suspended after getting sent off for violent conduct in the 1-0 second string win over Chester. He has an immediate three game ban.
Teenager Bobby Grant scored a wonder goal from 35-yards in the reserve clash - and could have put himself in contention for the squad to face the Imps. Roscoe Dsane also came through 90 minutes.
