Cash holds Bit O'Red back: John

JOHN RUSSELL Insists Sligo have to defy the financial odds if they are to remain a top-flight team.

- BY GARRY DOYLE

The Bit O’ Red are stuck in the relegation play-off zone after a poor start to the season, having won just four of their 19 games.

However, their ninth-place standing is in line with the budget table, which sees them and Drogheda vying for the unenviable position of being the club who pay the lowest wages in the Premier Division.

That was also the case last year - but Sligo comfortably survived while Drogheda stayed up via the play-offs after winning the FAI Cup. Tonight the two underdogs play one another at Sullivan and Lambe Park, with Russell saying his side need to use last week's win as a springboard to move up the table.