Folkestone Invicta's players gave up their wages last week to help the cash-strapped club pay its electricity and water bills.

Storm damage to the roof of the Wilf Armory Stand has already forced Invicta to postpone two lucrative Kent derbies against Herne Bay and Ramsgate.

That has left them struggling to balance the books, and manager Neil Cugley last week said he feared his squad might break up because of the club's cashflow problems.

But the players have pulled together for the good of the club.

Folkestone chairman Mark Jenner said: "The players very generously agreed to forego last week's wages though they were fully entitled to that money at what we appreciate is an expensive time of the year for everyone.

"With the loss of those two home matches and no income over Christmas and New Year we are now facing a temporary cash flow problem postponed.

"We also had to meet an electricity bill considerably bigger than we were expecting last month. That was offset by a much needed donation of £1,000 received last week, while certain friends of mine have promised more - but in a couple of weeks' time or so.

"Surprisingly, water rates and sewage charges are by far our biggest expense every month. We cannot do without either and must always take care of basic outgoings."

The main stand was set to be demolished but now the club are hopeful of repairing the damage rather than knocking it down completely.

Mr Jenner said: "That would obviously make restoration far less expensive than rebuilding from scratch at a later date, but there is no commitment that this will happen.

"Now that everybody is back at work at the (Shepway District) Council after the Christmas break, they have taken very prompt action in appointing Goody Demolition of Dover to undertake the initial work required to make the site safe.

"They intend to remove the rest of the sheeting and make welding repairs to the remaining steelwork such that it may be usable after all if it proves stable."