WITH their future off the field at last looking much more secure, Truro City will now be hoping their on the field fortunes start to improve.
Saturday's 1-0 home defeat against Maidenhead United, has left City ten points behind second from bottom Basingstoke Town.
They now have 23 games left to try and escape the drop from Blue Square South back to the Southern League premier division after just two seasons at Step 2.
The defeat against Maidenhead was a bitter blow, coming as it did less than 24 hours after the news that local businessmen Pete Masters and Philip Perryman had completed the take over of the club, ensuring its survival and ending the very real threat of the club going into liquidation (see page 100).
And Mr Masters, from the L2 nightclub said the big priority now was to keep the club up.
But it does not get any easier for City, who this Saturday travel to leaders Salisbury City, before taking on Dorchester Town at Treyew Road on Boxing Day (3pm).
City boss Lee Hodges has already boosted his squad with the surprise return of veteran striker Barry Hayles from St Albans, and he started against Maidenhead.
But Danny Carne has confirmed he is leaving Treyew Road for Carlsberg SWPL premier division outfit St Austell, despite the best efforts of Hodges to keep the promising youngster at the club.
Hodges said: "I spoke to Danny after Saturday and tried to convince him to stay and play for the reservesif he wanted more game time, but he has since texted me to say he still wants to join St Austell.
"It is a pity but it opens the door for someone else."
Suspended
For Saturday's game, City will be without the suspended Bobby Hopkinson, with Calron Hall the likely replacement at right back.
Hodges is still looking to boost his squad, which is back to 13 for Saturday, however, with the club still in administration that is not easy.
But he said they had not given up the fight. "We will do everything possible. There are a still a lot of points to play for, but we have got to start picking up points soon."
City news page 100.
