Troubled Worthing are ready to welcome new directors, providing they can come up with some cash.

Rebels' squad was further depleted this week when Stuart Tuck joined Eastbourne Borough and Marc Rice quit the game.

Rice left Woodside Road with a blast at "some of the directors" and the club's cost cutting measures.

But chairman Beau Reynolds denied the club were making unnecessary cuts and invited fans to see for themselves how tough it was to balance the books.

Reynolds insisted: "I have parted with Marc and Stuart on good terms. People don't know how much it takes to run a club of our standing."

Rebels were pinning their hopes on a lucrative FA Cup run this season and invested in a sizeable squad.

When those hopes were dashed at the first hurdle, belts were tightened.

But fans are still mystified as to how a club who signed a much-publicised five-figure sponsorship deal with WorthFM, and who have a lucrative friendly with Albion each summer, can be strapped for cash.

Reynolds added: "The sponsorship money is being paid in installments so we do not reap the immediate benefits.

"None of the money has been wasted because we had a very big budget for this division at the start of the season.

"Anyone who would like to invest in the club and buys a substantial holding of shares would be very welcome on the board but they would have to be the right people.

"It is easy for supporters to be critical because it is not their money.

"The board are contributing money every week, there are no exceptions to that, and I cannot speak highly enough of them."

That may not appease fans who have seen Rebels reduced to 14 senior players, of whom three are currently injured.

There is no relegation from Division One this season and Rice believes the club had that in mind when they decided to reduce the number of players on contract. Only Andrew Beech and Darren Baxter have signed deals for this season.

Rice said: "I am leaving Worthing because of politics in football, the pay structure and the way they treat the players. The club were promising us everything at the beginning of the season but then we got knocked out of the FA Cup and it became obvious they had put all their eggs in one basket.

"Some of the players are young and are learning the game. They might only have been getting £25 a week but even that has been cut back.

"I kicked up a stink about it because they are the future of Worthing Football Club.

"The boss asked me to take a cut and I said 'not a problem if it's across the board'.

"I was looking to go into coaching the youngsters at Worthing. I have had a lot of experience and I had started helping the younger boys from the touchline when I wasn't playing."

Rice's finest moment for Rebels came when he headed the final goal of their 1999 Senior Cup final win. He admitted he was sad to leave.

"There's a good set-up and lovely fans but a few people do not want to go any further. I would be looking to go back if the club looked to be going forward."

Tuck did not put his departure down to the budget cuts. He said: "I feel I have gone as far as I can with Worthing.

"The club have been quite good to me. I had offers during the summer but I wanted to show Worthing a bit of loyalty.

"I don't even know whether I really deserve this new opportunity but it has come up and I am happy to take it."

Fans' fears that Mark Burt may be next to leave have eased.

He said: "I wasn't too happy with a few things, which I don't want to discuss in the paper, but they have been resolved. We knew there would be cuts and that we would have to live with it or leave. I am happy now and just want to get on with the football."