Crawley will be deducted up to three points and fined £10,000 if found guilty of bringing the Conference into disrepute.

Reds must reassure the league they can resolve the ongoing issue with players' wages by the end of this week or face punishment.

Crawley are under a transfer embargo after exceeding the annual budget allowed to be paid to players set by the Conference.

They are also in breach of player contracts after a temporary pay-cut last month and the continuing non-payment of bonuses.

Crawley officials were called before the Conference board last week to explain the issues.

A club statement said: "Crawley could face penalties of up to three points and a maximum £10,000 fine due to breach of the approved playing budget but are in liaison with the board to resolve this matter.

"No conclusion was reached following Crawley's meeting at Burton Albion with the Conference board.

"Crawley were asked to clarify points reassuring the Conference that the players' wages issue will be resolved.

"In addition, there are ongoing discussions pending the issue of the annual players' budget. The excess of the budget is directly linked to the problems within the players' contracts, which led to the initial wage reduction in February.

"The bonus structure in the contracts is the immediate result of costs escalating and is still causing financial implications for the club."

Even if found guilty, Crawley will get off lightly compared to the punishment handed out to Altrincham.

The Cheshire club are facing relegation after being hit with an 18-point penalty for fielding an ineligible player.

A three-point deduction will not endanger Crawley's Conference status as they are ten points clear of the relegation places.

Meanwhile, midfielder Michael Bostwick has not ruled out joining Reds permanently in the summer.

Bostwick, 17, has impressed since joining on work experience from Millwall last month.

He has scored three goals in three league starts.

Bostwick said: "I don't know what is happening with me at Millwall at the moment, everything is up in the air.

"I've really enjoyed it at Crawley and I wouldn't rule out joining them. I wouldn't rule anything out, I'm just keeping my options open and seeing what happens."

Bostwick got his chance in the starting line-up after Danny Clay was recalled from a two-month loan by Exeter. Clay could be playing against Crawley tonight at St James' Park.

Reds travel to Devon for their penultimate game of the season without Paul Armstrong (back), Tony Scully, Gavin Gordon and Omari Coleman (all hamstrings).

Teams - Crawley: Phil Smith, Ben Judge, Leo Mendy, Chris Giles, Danny Brown, Lee Blackburn, Michael Bostwick, Rob Kember, Neil Jenkins, Steve Burton, Danny Ekoku.

Subs from: Scott Ward, Dave Woozley, Scott Marshall, Sacha Opinel, Sami El-Abd.

Exeter: Martin Rice, Dean Moxey, Billy Jones, Chris Todd, Matthew Gill, Jon Challinor, Andy Taylor, Jamie Mackie, Lee Phillips, Danny Woodards, Daniel Seabourne.

Subs from: Paul Jones, Santos Gaia, Danny Clay, Craig Farrell, Steve Flack.