NIK Michopoulos's form and fitness could be more important than ever as manager Stan Ternent has admitted: "At the moment I can't afford to carry two keepers."

The Greek stopper is the only senior keeper at the club and, although former Turf Moor hero Marlon Beresford is currently in the Isle of Man with the rest of the squad, any hope of a deal depends on a sizeable settlement with ITV Digital.

Michopoulos was injured in January in the FA Cup game at Cheltenham Town and Ternent swiftly moved to bring Beresford, then third choice at Middlesbrough, back to Turf Moor. Should a similar situation occur in the opening weeks of the season, a loan keeper would again have to be the option.

He is also hoping to tie up a deal with former Blackburn Rovers defender Marlon Broomes but is in the same situation of not knowing whether he can afford to add another player to the wage bill.

Even last season's player of the year Dean West is only on a monthly contract as Ternent added: "In an ideal world I would want to get him on a longer contract but there are financial implications."

In yesterday's Lancashire Evening Telegraph the manager spoke of the possiblity of selling star players to balance the books and as he prepares for the last game of the Steam Packet Isle of Man Football Festival he admitted: "At the moment I don't know who will stay or go.

"I'd like to sign the two Marlons but I don't know whether I can. Whatever happens I know that I am not likely to be able to pay a transfer fee.

"Any players I do bring in will be on a free but that has been what I have done a lot anyway. Nik Michopoulos, Westy, Arthur, Branchy, Alan Moore, they all cost nothing but if anyone is to come in I have to be certain I can pay the wages."

Ternent, like everyone connected with football, has been closely following the developing battle between the Football League and media giants Carlton and Granada and he has always hoped that a settlement would be reached out of court.

But court is where it is set to go today and he said: "I didn't want that because the only people that do well out of a court case are the legal people.

"Even if the League does win its case the chances are we are still going to be a long way short of what we have budgeted for but at least I would know exactly what I have to do and how much I have got."