JOHN Lister has warned his players that ill-discipline could ruin Colne's chances of a best ever season.

The Holt House side are currently in seventh place in NWCL Division Two but eight red cards -- including five in the last nine games -- could ruin everything achieved so far.

Now Lister wants to lift the red mist currently hanging over the club and has warned his players that now could be the time to get tough.

He said: "We introduced a code of practice at the beginning of the season and the chairman has said that it is there to be used. That could mean fining players if the ill-discipline on the pitch continues."

Gareth West, Richard Walton and Stuart Walters have picked up seven dismissals between them while the number of yellow cards dished out is fast approaching the 40 mark.

Defenders West and Walton are both suspended for Saturday's trip to Squires Gate leaving Colne short of cover at the back.

"It's very frustrating," said Lister. "Frustrating for me, frustrating for the players and frustrating for the club.

"We are not a dirty team but it reflects badly on the club. Ill-discipline has begun to creep in to the camp in recent weeks and it is something we are concerned about.

"It is something we have to stamp out because we do not want to make a name for ourselves for the wrong reasons. And all these sendings off are costing us points."

He added: "Myself and the chairman will be speaking to the lads before the Squires Gate game. It is vital we finish the match with 11 players."

Lister blamed his young side's lack of experience and naivety for the cause of some many dismissals.

"They're not big enough to go around clouting players," joked the Colne boss. "Most of the red cards have been for dissent and I have told them that it is not worth giving back-chat to referees.

"Of course there have been a few for retaliation, which we will not tolerate, while other players have been sent off for mis-timed tackles."

With a £7 fine for every yellow card and £15 for red cards, Colne have gone some way to lining the coffers at the LFA headquarters in Leyland.

Lister, who also works in Leyland with the LFA Academy set-up, said: "I know Jim Parker who is in charge of discipline and he always gives me a little smile wondering how many reports have landed on his desk on a Monday morning. This week I don't want there to be any."

More bad news for Colne is that they may have to play the remainder of the season without Gavin Cooper who has been out for the past three weeks with a ruptured knee.

"I feel sorry for Gavin," said Lister. "He had been an ever-present up until he picked up the injury and now he may not play again this season.

"Ben Callon, who has rejoined us from Squires Gate, is unavailable and Jonathan Irvine is suspended -- but I want to point out that is from when he was still at Nelson!"