Manager Barrie Stimpson was due to sign Scott Doherty last night, Thursday, while centre-forward Lee Ebden has also joined.

Doherty joins from North Lancashire League side Highgrove while Ebden was last at Kidderminster but has been out of the game for 18 months due to injury.

Stimpson was hoping the new faces would end a run of six league matches without a goal going back to Worksop on December 9 – against a Scarborough side next to bottom in the table.

He said: "Lee wants to get games in and he will go into the team on Saturday. I have watched Scott a couple of times and he has a good reputation so I am pleased to have him on board and he will be in the 16 on Saturday."

Doherty has scored eight goals this season for Highgrove, who have impressed many in their second season in the Premier Division of the local league.

Manchester-based Ebden is expected to come straight in for Jimmy Love, who is out for a fortnight with an ankle ligament injury picked up at Hyde on Monday.

Stimpson has injury concerns in defence too.

Kevin Brown came off at half-time at Hucknall on Saturday with a strain in his hamstring. He faces a fitness test for tomorrow's game.

And Neil Marshall had to come off at Hyde United with a twisted ankle but he is expected to be fit.
Danny Barnes is still out while Scott Greenwood is due to have his plaster off next week.

Stimpson said he would continue to look for new blood as he tries to rally his side after three successive 5-0 defeats.
He said: "I had hoped we would get more consistency than what we have so we will be looking for more people.

"I am not happy getting beaten 5-0. Sometimes you have to hold your hand up and say 'that was a great goal' but I have been disappointed with some of the sloppy goals we have conceded."

He had taken some positive from the chances his side had created, hitting the woodwork three times at Hucknall.
"When you are down at the bottom, these things seem to go against you," he said.

City will be hoping for a change in fortunes against a Scarborough side who have been near the foot of the table all season.

They started the campaign on -10 points having gone into administration in the summer and are seven points from safety.

Stimpson said: "It will be a nice change to be back at home after a run of away matches.

"Recently at home we lost narrowly to the probable champions, Droylsden, had a decent performance against Barrow and then three late goals from Nuneaton gave a false slant on things.

"I will be telling the lads to play with a bit more confidence and to express themselves.

"Don't come off the pitch feeling 'I wish I had done that' – give it a go," he added.

n Another company has helped out City in their time of need.
The Giant Axe dressing rooms have been repainted by S and A Site Services.

"People are rallying round to help so thanks to them," said Stimpson. n FORMER Lancaster City manager, Gary Finley, was this week appointed boss at UniBond League side, Colwyn Bay.

Finley, who quit City in October to become assistant manager at Southport, replaces Peter Davenport, who is the new Southport boss.

City to lose points but fine is suspended

THE Conference have imposed the expected 10-point deduction on Lancaster City for going into administration.
The club were waiting for confirmation by letter, then have 14 days to appeal, and then the table is expected to be updated.

Mick Hoyle, chairman of City's shareholders, said the club would not be appealing.

The Conference board also gave City a £2,000 fine for fielding an unregistered player at Blyth Spartans earlier in the season.

However, this fine has been suspended for two years so will only be enforced if City commit a similar offence in that period.

Mr Hoyle said: "We were pleased that the Conference have seen the situation that we are in and realised that that was under the old regime and so have given us two years to keep our noses clean."

Mr Hoyle had been encouraged by the support from opposing clubs with the Hucknall board presenting City with a painting.

He said: "It could be worse than this - we could have closed down six weeks ago. We are still going and we will fight until the end of the season.

"To put it in context, we are paying 10 per cent of the wages that sides we are playing are paying.

"The players in the side are showing great potential. They are playing for next season, whatever league we are in."