THAME United insist they will play on after bailiffs moved in and took everything from the team's kit to the stretcher they use to carry injured players off the pitch.

The debt collectors, who are chasing an unpaid five figure VAT bill, also removed items belonging to organisations who use the club's facilities, such as Thame Bridge Club and Thame Boxing Club.

They also stripped out furniture and took the glasses from the bar as they lost patience with United who have also been guilty of failing to fill in their tax returns.

Their actions have left several players at the Southern League Division One West club with the jitters Justin Merritt has already joined Oxford City, John Gardner is talking to Banbury and two or three others are expected to leave.

Manager Mark West has also been offered a position with another club.

He said: "A few of the lads have got the jitters and I wouldn't blame any of them if they left but I think there will also be a few who will want to stay. We've got some very loyal players here."

He added: "I'll be getting the lads ready and trying to sign players. We will work as normal as if nothing has happened and if someone in three or four weeks says you cannot do it, at least we will know we have done our best."

But United are optimistic they will start the league season on August 13.

They started training when secretary Fred Saulsbury held a crisis meeting with the players.

And while he expects some to jump ship, other players have rallied round. John Mitchell and Tom Goffe have both volunteered to work behind the Windmill Stadium bar for nothing, while two clubs have already offered to give Thame a new kit.

A statement issued by the club read: "In the long term the club is determined to continue with its role as a major contributor to the community in Thame but in the meantime, it earnestly requests the support of its many customers and suppliers during what will undoubtedly be a difficult time."

An emergency meeting has been called by club members for Wednesday, July 13.

The members-run club have been in financial difficulties for some time and they have tried on several occasions to do a deal with housing developers to enable them to move to another site near Lord Williams's Upper school.

However, planning permission to build homes on the Windmill Road site have been turned down.

Meanwhile the brewery has replaced the glasses in the bar and that is up and running again.

Other institutions have already promised to give the club's furniture so that Thame's function room and conference facilities can continue to operate although one nervous bride has already cancelled her wedding reception at the club.

But Sandy Saulsbury, Thame United's operations manager, urged people to keep on using the club's facilities.

She said: "We ask people not to pull out of supporting us and using our venue, which still offers good value.

"We are not here to make a profit, we are just here to play football and we feel very positive about the future."