THINGS just go from bad to worse for Great Harwood whose run of poor luck seems to be never-ending.

The Showground club, always going to be struggling after promotion to the NWCL Division One last season, had four points deducted for an administrative error earlier on in the season and have been rooted to the foot of the table ever since.

Then the club house and changing rooms burnt down so they couldn't use the Showground - and, as the changing rooms are owned by Monroes nightclub next doorwhich also burnt down, there is a worry they aren't insured.

And Harwood now fear they will get no financial help from the Football Association after chairman Bill Holden put in an emergency appeal for money.

To add to all this, they have lost both their top scorers.

John Eastham is out for the rest of the season with an injury and their 14-goal hotshot Paul Mashiter has recently placed himself on the transfer list.

"It is gutting to lose Paul, one of our best players, but he wants to go so you can't stand in his way," said boss Dave Sharples. "With John injured I have lost both my strikers in a space of a month."

And, as if that wasn't enough, there hasn't been a victory in eight games to at least give the players and management at the club something to smile about.

It doesn't get any easier for Harwood either as they travel to third placed St Helens tomorrow (3pm) and then face local rivals Bacup Borough at Accrington Stanley FC next Thursday (7.45).

"We just have to take it one game at a time and see what happens," said the Robins boss. "I am ringing managers up from week to week to see if I can get players in.

"I am just so gutted for Bill. He has put such a lot of work in at the club over the years.

"At the moment, we are just keeping the club ticking over. We are locked in the relegation spots and if we finish second from bottom I think it will be an achievement judging by the season we have had. It would be an improvement."

Harwood have been playing at the Interlink since last Saturday but failed to put on a good show for the 120-strong crowd, losing 5-0 to Nantwich.

"It could have been stagefright for coming here but it was the worst performance of the season," said Sharples.

It meant the manager made five changes for the game against top club Fleetwood on Wednesday night which they lost 3-0. Former Stanley favourite Andy Gouck returned to the Interlink with his new club Fleetwood in front of a decent crowd of 126.

"It was a better show," said the boss. "I have called in Mark Stewart who used to play at Clitheroe and he was magnificent in defence.

"We have just got to keep plugging away. Surely it can't get any worse."