THE Gigg Lane cash crisis has claimed it's first victims with members of the Shakers backroom staff and four junior players leaving the club.

Both Director of Youth, Dave Cowling and Youth Development Officer Dave Dew have been made redundant while young goalkeeper Gary Hoggeth, midfielder John Borg, and full backs Rob Debenham and Ian Hutchinson, haven't had their short term contracts renewed.

Added to that a number of clerical staff have also been made redundant in a move that chairman Terry Robinson described as "regrettable but necessary."

With outgoings and contracts at Gigg Lane still in line with the First Division relegation has hit the club hard and the chairman explained that the moves were necessary to keep the running of the club on an even keel.

"We've had to do a full appraisal of the staffing levels throughout the club and a certain amount of full and part-time staff members have been lost by natural wastage, voluntary and compulsory redundancies," he said.

"This is due to the drop in income that comes about with relegation. It's very regrettable but became a necessity that's been forced upon us due to the financial situation the club finds itself in."

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