Baker wants Cheltenham to avoid making a loss in 2009-10

Cheltenham are unlikely to recoup the full cost of home games against Burton and Hereford being postponed, according to the club's chairman, Paul Baker.

The cold weather has meant the Robins have only had three home games in 10 weeks, putting pressure on the budget.

"We will play these games eventually," Baker told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"But we're not going to get the cash when we were hoping to receive it and when the games are played on a Tuesday evening the gates will be much lower."

Baker sets the temporary shortfall for the two matches at around £65,000 but hopes Cheltenham's problems will not be as acute as last season.

Clubs will not want to be incurring additional expenditure when there's no matches for those players to play in Paul Baker

A series of postponements in 2008-09 meant the club had to delay paying its players and also applied unsuccessfully to the Borough Council for a loan to tide it over.

This time round it is likely to reduce the club's activity in the early part of the January transfer window, which is something Baker feels will be reflected across Leagues One and League Two:

"The one thing it will certainly do is defer some business because clubs will not want to be incurring additional expenditure when there's no matches for those players to play in.

"We'll obviously have a look at the Grimsby situation next Saturday and if there's doubts about that game too then I think it'll be prudent for us to again stall on any new signings."

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