GREAT Harwood Town became the unusual victims of the foot and mouth crisis when they were forced to reduce their player's wages last season due to financial difficulties.

The North West Counties First Division side lost thousands of pounds when the Showground was shut down after the abattoir nearby was infected with the virus. The team moved temporarily to Accrington Stanley's Crown Ground.

It is thought the club were unable to pay the players for some time after the cash stopped flowing.

Secretary Mark Jones said: "We had to reduce the wages last season but the lads weren't on much anyway, about £40 per game.

"They are all Great Harwood lads and they said if we couldn't pay them they'd accept what we could pay."

The club received a four-figure sum from the FA this summer to compensate them for around one third of the loss.

And the club have signed their most lucrative sponsorship deal ever with the Great Harwood Co-op.

The two-year-deal, worth an undisclosed fee, will help the club recover from their financial crisis and will help pay for refurbishment to the changing rooms as well as work on the pitch and floodlights.

The Co-op have provided the club with a new home and away kit, tracksuits and sub suits.