ACCRINGTON Stanley goalkeeping coach Jamie Speare has been a victim of cost cutting at the League Two club.

The stopper, a former player who only took a full-time job with the club in the summer, was told he was surplus to requirements this week.

Physio Joe Hinnighan will also has his hours restructured as the Reds try and shave their bills.

“It is just unfortunate,” said chief executive Rob Heys. “ We have got a lot lower crowds this season than expected and, with the current economic climate, we are not getting the sponsorship deals coming in.

“We have had to be prudent and make cut backs. It is not wholesale cuts. We employ 50 full-time staff and 100 part-time and it is just one person and restructuring another person's hours.

“It is horrible doing anything like that but we need to make cuts now for the club to survive in long term.

“The club is not in trouble but we have had to take action now.”