Greg Clarke, the man charged with sorting out crippling £30million debts, did not dodge the issue when pressed about the financial mess.

Asked whether Leicester would be playing professional football next season, he said : 'I cannot give the fans the assurance that they will have a club to support beyond the current campaign.'

Clarke has been to New York and London to rally support among creditors in an attempt to release some of the pressure threatening the club.

He has not been helped by the continuing controversy surrounding Dennis Wise's future, but with the club in crisis, he has a far bigger issue to deal with than the future of the 35-year-old former England international.

Leicester's appeal to the Football League over its decision that the sacked Wise should be reinstated will be heard tomorrow.

Clarke added: 'We are trying to put in place guarantees that will give supporters the assurance of a future.

'I've been speaking to all the stockholders and the best thing for them is for the club to continue trading. That is what we are trying to achieve.'

Leicester issued a stock market statement on Friday, declaring the short-medium and long-term cashflow position was cause for grave concern.

Manager Micky Adams, who takes his side to Crystal Palace tonight, said: 'It has been difficult to keep minds on football matches and the last week was my hardest as a manager or player.