WEYMOUTH Sports are in danger of folding after parting company with manager Adie Chance by mutual consent.

The former Portland, Bridport and Dorchester striker has left the struggling outfit just days before the start of new Elite Teamwear Dorset Premier League season.

And chairman Mark Richards has warned the Cranford Avenue club might go under if a replacement isn't found before the weekend.

He said: "We're disappointed to lose Adie and we thank him for efforts at the club both as a player and manager. He's done a good job in very difficult circumstances and saving us from relegation last year was a tremendous achievement.

"Obviously the timing is a bit tricky because we don't want to start the season with no one in charge. We really need to be making an appointment with the next 48 hours so that the new man will at least have a couple of days to sort things out and give himself half a chance of getting a team out for the visit of Hamworthy Recreation on Saturday.

"At the moment it's looking pretty grim. If we don't find a new manager very quickly

then we'd seriously have to consider withdrawing from the league.

"It's been a struggle over the past few years but this club has got a proud history and things can be good again with some hard work and a little bit of luck.

"A lot of decent players have come through our ranks such as Michael Walker, Nathan Walker, Mark Kenway and Paul Payne and it would be very sad if the town was to lose a club that has given so many youngsters a start in the game."

If a new boss can be found before the weekend, his first task will be to attract a few extra players to Sports' Weymouth College headquarters.

Richards added: "Pre-season training got off to a good start with plenty of players turning up, but it's since fallen away quite dramatically which is obviously a worry.

"Things have been so bad over the past week or so that we had to call off friendlies against Stickland United and Chickerell United because we didn't have enough bodies

and we apologise to both clubs for letting them down."

He added: "So apart from a manager we also desperately need a few more players and I'd urge anyone interested in joining us to contact me urgently."

One man Sports fans would like to see back in charge at Cranford Avenue is former boss Vaughan Carter who retired from the hot seat three years ago. Meanwhile others who might fancy their first taste of management are ex-Sporties Micky Greeno, Pat George and Jason Forbes.

Anyone interested in running or playing for Sports should contact Mark Richards on 01305-251413 or 07799 185796.