CLIFTON have put their top two senior teams on a semi-professional footing by agreeing to pay players. The National Two South have drawn up a tiered system of cash incentives for players in the first XV and Wanderers, which will be linked to attending twice-weekly training sessions at Station Road and also assisting with coaching the club's flourishing mini and junior section.

Chairman Darren Lloyd, who is also director of rugby, said the move was necessary for Clifton to maintain their status as one of the top 40 clubs in the country and to progress.

Clifton have previously invested their resources in coaching but feel players must now also be offered modest rewards in recognition of the commitment needed to compete at this level.

He said: "This is something we have thought long and hard about, particularly when we find ourselves up against a growing number of clubs who are paying.

"One team in our division has a playing budget of £250,000, another £150,000, while we're asking our lads to train twice a week, do fitness work in their own time and then sometimes get on a coach for a four or five-hour journey before a game.

"If we are serious about competing then paying is something we have to do. It has to be viable and it has to be run on a business model that is self-sustaining – you certainly can't rely on a benefactor as we all know what can happen when that one man gets bored or runs out of money.

"Here, we don't have any debts and we are financially stable. We are a professionally-run rugby club. And if your only business is rugby and you want that business to be successful then this is something we have to seriously look at.

"It all comes down to having control of your players, and the system we are looking at will help with that.

"But this is not about trying to attract mercenaries, it will be a fully integrated approach that will be linked to attending training and also assisting with our junior section."

No brown envelopes or bulging boots are in sight. Clifton have set up a new operating company to handle payments with tax and national insurance contributions being deducted at source, along with each player's monthly membership fee. The rest of the historic club remains amateur.

Clifton finished fifth in the league last season, but are 11th this time around, albeit with a game in hand which could see them move up two places.

Lloyd added: "We've been hit really hard by injuries. As an example, at the start of the season we had five fly-halves, but two weeks ago, for various reasons including injury, none were available.

"If you look at our league position you have to say that we've under-performed so far. But we're keen to keep improving and to start moving up the table."

There has been a flurry of new arrivals at Station Road, including scrum-half Andy Uren, who recently made his league debut after leaving Cinderford, while three men have been signed on loan from troubled Plymouth Albion – wingers Pete Horman and Jake Henry, along with No 8 Ali Bone.

Playmaker Charlie Foley is back with the club after a loan spell at Plymouth, as is prop Tom Harrison, while James Mackay, a summer arrival from Weston-super-Mare, is getting closer to making a comeback from injury.

Clifton, who last weekend overcame Redruth 30-22, can tomorrow do neighbours Dings Crusaders a big favour with victory at second-from- bottom Shelford.

Dings, who remain at the foot of the table, entertain Cambridge, who are seventh.