SCARBOROUGH take the field tonight knowing that their Nationwide Conference clash with Morecambe could be their very last.
A meeting with the club's creditors on Friday will decide the fate of the 121-year-old club and should they fail to gain the support they need the financially stricken club's fixture against the Shrimpers at the McCain Stadium (7.45pm) will bring down the curtain on a club who enjoyed 12 seasons in the Football League.
However, caretaker player-manager Neil Thompson has had to banish all discussion of what lies ahead from the dressing room.
"All we can do is concentrate on the game against Morecambe and once that is out of the way, then turn our thoughts to preparing for Saturday's home game against Kingstonian," said the former York City boss.
"All we can hope is that we get a positive outcome from Friday's meeting and then get on with enjoying our season.
"And hopefully we can have a good one, but for the time being all myself and the players can do is carry on as though it is business as usual."
That has to have been a hard task for Thompson and all his staff as the Boro players are believed to have yet to be paid during August, but there was no suggestion of any on-field revolt as the Seadogs collecting a useful away point from a 1-1 draw at Stevenage Borough on Saturday.
An 80th minute goal from Steve Brodie earned the draw at Broadhall Way, but Thompson felt that they could have come away with more.
"To be honest our keeper Andy Woods had very little to do and I felt that by the end of it we had created enough chances to have won it," said Thompson.
"But of course what has gone on the in the past few weeks at the club has not helped and I feel that the players' response in the circumstances has been terrific.
"Their attitude on Saturday was spot on and for that they deserved to win the game.
"Obviously they are as much in the dark as anyone else about what will happen until August 25, but in some ways we are lucky than others at the club because at least we can look forward to the release of playing the games."
Thompson is able to pick from the same squad of 17 that travelled to Stevenage, the only notable absentee being striker Chris Tate who has now had surgery on his troublesome knee and it is hoped will return to light training next week.
While the Seadogs are understandably actively avoiding picking out tonight's match as any kind of landmark moment in their history, they are still eager for as many supporters as possible to get to the game.
"We need all the help we can get," admitted Thompson.
"The players really did appreciate the support of the fans who travelled to Stevenage on Saturday and we are just hoping that as many of them as possible get behind us again tomorrow night - it would be a big help and show that we can all pull together."
Scarborough: Woods, Russell, Rennison, Jones, Ellender, Betts, Stoker, Ingram, Pounder, Williams, Brodie. Subs (from): Thompson, Newton, Morris, Windross, Brunton, Gildea.
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