If the world of football had a dictionary, search Northwich Victoria and they would undoubtedly come under the mantle of 'crisis club'. The trauma Vics fans have had to put up with in recent years is enough to test the most ardent of football supporters. As things stand, Northwich have had an application for administration put on hold as the goings on at the club are investigated and a possible takeover is in process. To top that, the club languish at the bottom of the league, the only BSP club without a victory or an away point.

As founder members of the Blue Square Premier, then known as the National Alliance, the Vics were the only ever present side at the pinnacle of non-league for almost 25 years before they were relegated in controversial circumstances. In 2003/04, the year after Jimmy Quinn had departed to lead Shrewsbury to promotion, the Vics finished rock bottom but stayed up due to the financial and ground technicalities of other sides.

The first dip into administration came months later, and Northwich became the first club to fall foul of the new 10 point deduction rule. Despite this, and under the stewardship of the fantastic Steve Burr, they defied all odds and finished comfortably in mid-table. With no time to revel in their achievements, Vics were stunned to find the Conference had relegated them anyway, due to a complicated process of not registering the new clubs name after administration to their new ground, the Victoria Stadium.

Burr was persuaded to stay on and engineered Northwich's most successful camapaign to date. They romped away with the Conference North title netting over 100 goals and registering 100 points. Last season bode well with a mid-table finish, but falling crowds and a huge bust up between Burr and chairman Connett saw the manager resign, and the start of Northwich's fall from grace has seemingly started again with this season already looking doomed.

The Manager - Dino Maamria is the fourth Northwich manager since the end of last season. Steve Burr, Neil Redfearn and Paul Warhurst have all bit the dust and Dino has a serious job on his hands. Tunisian born, Maamria has plied most of his football trade in England, and the Vics post is his first managerial job. The former Tunisian under-21 International is also a youth team manager of the Burnley youth side, so at least has a little management experience.

The 35-year-old will continue playing for the Vics when the need arises, usually playing a strikers role. He has played for six Conference clubs before, scoring a healthy 86 goals in over 250 appearances for the likes of Doncaster, Stevenage, Southport and Leigh RMI. Whilst at Stevenage, Graham Westley sent Maamria on an anger management course after the striker had earned three red cards in four games.

This season - .No wins, no away points and 15 defeats are the depressing statistics Vics fans see when they dare to look at the league table. It's a crisis of some proportion! The campaign started with a new manager (Neil Redfearn) making all the right noises and bringing in new signings who had been there and got the t-shirt in the Conference, so its quite surprising to see Northwich where they are.

An opening day defeat to Ebbsfleet was nothing overly unusual, but after throwing away a 2-0 lead to draw against Droylsden, they hit a dreadful run of 10 straight defeats, including some crushing losses at Aldershot (5-0), Histon (1-3), Woking (1-3), and Halifax (1-3). After the Histon loss, Redfearn parted company with the Vics, and ex-Blackburn Paul Warhurst took over. The dehabilitating run was halted with a draw against Kidderminster but Weymouth and Forest Green hammered the green and whites to confirm their bottom spot.

Less than a week after accepting the job, Warhurst quit, leaving the most experienced player in charge. Dino Maamria has taken the job full time and looks determined to last it out, overseeing their third home point against Exeter and defeats to Grays and Stevenage. Brief respite came in the FA Cup, when they finally won a game at Southport, before Oxford defeated them in the First Round proper. Further embarrasment followed midweek when a full strength Vics lost 1-0 to Nantwich in the Cheshire Cup.

The Squad - The Vics squad has been decimated at times this season, and Maamria has just released three players for apparent 'poor commitment'. Chris Williams, Paul Tait and Kevin Townson, first team regulars up to now, were shown the door yesterday. Pre-season signings Greg Strong and Simon Rusk were slapped on the transfer list less than two months at the club and have moved on already, Rusk heading for Rushden.

The goalkeeping place has been shared between Ben Connett and Phil Senior this season, neither unable to stop the haemorrhage of goals. Hence the signing of new stopper Scott Tynan. The defence consists of Micheal Welch, who scored a 40-yard piledriver against Droylsden, Mark Jarret, Ryan Brown and Kevin Sharp. Sharp was brought in by Redfearn and has Premiership experience as a youngster with Leeds United. Mark Birch is also a defensive option, the former Cumbrian once seeing red against Cambridge some five years ago.

The biggest threat from midfield is local lad done well, Michael Carr, but fortunately he is suspended for Saturday. Richard Battersby can play all acros the midfield and has made over 100 appearances in the green of the Vics.

Options are very short in the middle of the park with just two other midfielders available. Danny Williams (no relation to the recently released Chris) and Brad Maylett complete the thin midfield as Maamria hopes to bring in fresh blood for the weekend.

Former Cambridge target Lee Steele has battled vainly up front, usually with Williams, Tait or Townson but they've all been released, so Steele could find himself partnering his manager up front. Jonny Allan, always impressive against Cambridge is still recovering from a broken leg and won't be fit for Saturday. Only 12 goals have been scored this season, most of those by players who have left. Rusk, Coulson and Wiliams with 2 and Tait with 3, leaving just Michael Welch and Ryan Brown in the current squad who have netted.

One to Watch - Scott Tynan - Young stopper who denied Cambridge for so long whilst playing for Ebbsfleet earlier this season. From the Liverpool area, and wanting to stay part-time, Tynan begrudgingly left the Fleet after two months of sterling performances, and was the right player at the right time for Northwich. Starting his career at Wigan, he moved to Forest where he didn't quite make the cut, being loaned out to Telford, Barnet and Hereford. A permanent spell at Rushden followed before his Ebbsfleet adventure, and it looks like another busy afternoon at the Abbey for Tynan for the second time this season.

Facts, stats and connections - .Northwich have gone 24 Conference games without a win, including last season. Their last away success came at Tamworth in early April this year, some 14 away games ago. No former U's are at Northwich and the only Vics link at Camrbridge is manager Jimmy Quinn, who bossed the club 2001 to 2003. He stabilised the club beyond expectation, as the part-time outfit were favourites for relegation. His win ratio was 36% and this attracted Shrewsbury Town to his talents, who were promptly promoted under Jimmy.

We have only met three times, all of them last season. Our last meeting ended 4-0 to Cambridge, with the Championship bound Robbie Simpson netting his first senior hat-trick. The previous two meetings were all Northwich though, a 2-0 win in the FA Cup and a 1-0 success on their only visit to the Abbey, on the first day of last season. Despite the pre-match presentation of new chairman Lee Power, a disappointing performance saw Townson net the only goal to secure a Northwich victory.

Current Form -

Cambridge United - DWDDWW - (4th)

Northwich Victoria - LDLWLL - (24th)

Chris Vessey