The crisis at Wood's neighbours St Albans City continued to deepen this week, as their suspension from the Ryman League stayed in place despite former chairman and majority shareholder Lee Harding agreeing to write off personal loans to the club, reported to be in the region of £140,000.

He has offered to sell the striken club for £1 if a suitable buyer can be found, but with the Inland Revenue and other creditors still owed £110,000, this seems unlikely at present.

Wood were prepared to spring to their rivals' aid by staging a benefit match at Meadow Park this weekend, with all the gate proceeds going to the Save Our Saints' fund.

But with Wood without a league match due to scheduled opponents Braintree being still involved in the FA Trophy, and St Albans' clash against Billericay postponed, it was agreed to restage the fixture between Wood and the Blues, washed out last Saturday.

There were even subsequent suggestions of the Saints fundraiser taking place on Friday evening, with Wood's Capital League side providing the opposition, but this was sensibly soon shelved.

Wood chairman Danny Hunter, whose late father managed both clubs in the 1970's, remains keen to rearrange this match, however, and it is possible that it will now be staged in the next couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, Danny Jennings, chairman of second division Berkhamsted Town, is negotiating on behalf of a new consortium as a go-between for a business partner.

With the limited company that owns St Albans City facing a winding up order in court on February 20, he will have to move fast if he is to rescue the Saints.

He said: "We are doing everything we can to reach an agreement, and I am trying to arrange a meeting this week to see the club's books."

City's player exodus has already begun, with skipper Derek Brown leaving to join Bedford.