Carl Stabler would take pleasure in seeing Wick lift silverware this season and raising two fingers to his critics.

The Wick boss is upset his men have been labelled "big money" players in some quarters of the County League. He insisted his side receive only a £10 match fee each and Wick's budget is among the lowest in the league.

He said: "We rely on loyalty at this club. I don't want big money players. I've been guilty in the past of having lots of resources and paying large amounts, but I learned my lesson.

"Wick were paying players handsomely at the start of last season. Once the money dried up, they all left. That shows their poor character in my eyes. We don't want that situation here now.

"I get fed up of going around the circuit and hearing silly comments about how we must be paying the likes of Gary Young large wedges of dosh when it's not true.

"If we do well this season and win things it would be a big two fingers to all those who criticise my players. We don't get the credit we deserve. People can say what they like, but at the end of the day I know we're running a tight ship here."

Young, the veteran in the side at 34, was influential at the back during Saturday's first qualifying round Vase win against fellow County Leaguers Lancing. He is the first to scotch rumours of inflated wages at Wick.

He said: "There's no money here at all and we've only got a 16-man squad. If we get a couple of injuries, then it might become a bit of a struggle.

"We've got a number of local players in the side and a few that have been brought in. That's how we're going to compete with the Burgess Hills and Saltdeans this season."

Stabler managed East Preston when they were beaten by eventual Vase winners Deal Town last season and guided Littlehampton to the semi-finals in 1991.

The Wick boss, who is serving a 56-day Sussex FA touchline ban after being found guilty of misconduct last season at East Preston, admitted his side is not strong enough to mount a serious bid for the prestigious Vase trophy.

He said: "We had a big squad at Littlehampton and a lot of goalscorers in the side. It would be nice to have a run in the competition, but we're not quite there to compete with the Vase big guns.

"There's not much pressure on us this season. My remit from the chairman is to avoid relegation, but of course we'll be looking to do a lot better than that."

Lancing were outclassed by Wick at Crabtree Park. They were 2-0 down at the break after conceding goals from Matt Osbourne and Darren Annis in the opening 15 minutes.

Further strikes from Annis, John Chalaye and Ben Milford wrapped things up, but the scoreline could have been double figures had Wick taken more chances.

Lancing, promoted from division two, have only picked up one point from their opening six league games and manager Andy Gander confessed it could be a long winter fighting for division one survival.

He said: "That's our priority. We've got to stop leaking goals. Losing the Vase game is not the end of the world, although a 5-0 defeat is not good for morale.

"There's a big gap between division one and two. Technically our players were as good as Wick's, but they were able to shift the ball around a lot quicker and that's what we've found so far.

"It's going to be difficult to sign new players all the time we're losing, but we're going to work on it."

MATCH DETAILS WICK: Treadwell, Osborne (sub: Court 88mins), Gibbs (sub: Chalye 58), Young, Curnow (sub: Beard 65), Garrard, Milford, Phillips, Annis, Thorpe, Potbury.

LANCING: R. Whittington; Venus, Gray (sub: Sharman 80mins), G. Whittington, Miles (sub: Minton 79), Simpson (sub: Towell 67), Bull, Souter, Schneider, Bunton, Brunaud. Subs not used: Minton, Ford, Prior.

Men-of-the-match: Young (Wick); R Whittington (Lancing)

Attendance: 102 Referee: Chris Pearce ( Horsham)