Cheltenham Town chairman Paul Baker says the club will field a team of teenagers if it means staving off administration this season.

Cheltenham Borough Council will hold a vote on March 30 to decide if a loan of £100,000 is to be made to save the struggling football club.

Financial difficulties have led to the departure of four players in recent weeks and Damian Spencer is believed to be close to a move to Brentford.

Ashley Vincent and Ian Westlake left to join Colchester United and Oldham Athletic respectively yesterday, following leading scorer Lloyd Owusu and Alex Russell away from Whaddon Road.

Baker said the loan will give the club breathing space and allow them to reach the end of what has been a difficult season without further cuts.

If the council votes against the Robins cash injection, drastic measures will have to be taken to avoid a 10-point penalty for next season.

The deadline for deductions for clubs entering administration this season is March 26.

"If they vote against the loan and it means we have to field a team of 17-year-olds, then we will field a team of 17-year-olds, but we are not going to go into administration," Baker said.

"A number of factors have conspired to leave us with a short term cash flow situation that we can deal with, with the help of the local council.

"Without their help, we would still make it, but we'd have to explore other areas and I don't know how we would do it, but we'd have to further reduce the wage bill and make redundancies off the field."

With the club cast adrift at the foot of the table, crowds have nose-dived below 3,000.

Cheltenham have knocked in excess of £7,000 off their weekly wage bill by trimming their squad.

But if the council's loan is approved, the club could make signings in a last-ditch bid to avoid the drop.

They lie 10 points from safety, with 10 matches left.

"I am hoping we might see one or two players coming in," Baker said.

"People may ask if that is prudent, but it will be at a massively reduced wage to the players going out, so there will be a net saving.

"The consequences of relegation would see us lose £250,000 from our grant, so there is a massive incentive to stay in this division and we will be doing our best to achieve that."

Town went close to administration in February, but half of a £200,000 deficit was paid in the form of a directors' loan and it is down the council to do the rest.

"I don't feel comfortable asking the council for the loan, but it's not a lot of money," Baker said.

"If we start next season with a points penalty and were to slip into the Blue Square Premier, the consequences would be serious, but we have addressed the situation early and with the help of the council we can move forward."

Baker, who confirmed the club will be leaving their training base at Seasons next season, said he was confident the council will vote in favour of the loan as a result of the "massive part" the club plays in the local community.