YORK City players will be putting their hands in their pockets to help fund a stop over in Farnborough tonight.

Budget cuts in the last few years have seen subsidies for away accommodation considerably reduced.

But players have been helping themselves get the best possible preparation by contributing to overnight stays for the longer journies, including tomorrow's visit to Farnborough.

Player manager Chris Brass said: "They have been contributing from time to time and that certainly helps.

"Unfortunately, the fact that it's a 1 o'clock kick off this Saturday eliminates any possibility of travelling down on the day. We do try and do as much as we can.

"The players are contributing to the costs and it gives us a more realistic chance of doing well. It means we are not sitting on a coach for hours and hours worrying whether or not we will get through the traffic at Heathrow and if we will get there on time.

"Thankfully, the players are trying to do things the right way. It underlines their commitment and professionalism that they will try and help as best as they can."

While City's defensive problems have mounted up this week, Farnborough's back line will be bolstered for tomorrow's Conference clash by the return from suspension of two key players.

Captain Nick Burton and fellow centre back Anthony Charles are both expected to return to the home side's starting line-up for the visit of the Minstermen after serving bans for red cards.

Central midfielder Gary Holloway is also likely to recover from a minor knock picked up in the 2-0 defeat at Crawley Town on Tuesday night.

City are likely to come up against a 3-5-2 formation, similar to that used against Chris Brass' men at Morecambe in midweek, but fifth-bottom Farnborough have won just one of their last six matches - Saturday's 2-1 home triumph against Accrington Stanley.

Updated: 10:53 Friday, October 08, 2004