The FA has cut the amount of prize money in the early rounds of the FA Cup this season.

And it looks as if the days of clubs making over £40,000 by battling through all the qualifying rounds are over at least for the time being, while the hard up FA reshapes the financial incentives.

Instead of giving £7,500 to the winners of the first and second qualifying rounds, the FA has announced that the prize money will be £2,250 and £3,750 respectively.

The third qualifying round is £5,000 instead of £10,000, and the fourth is £10,000, instead of £20,000.

Despite the reduction, the anount on offer is still quite an incentive to the region's clubs - prize money was next to nothing only four years ago - and the extent of team building and ground improvements will depend on sucess in the FA Cup.

For those clubs who like to dream, the winner at the Millenium Stadium in May will pick up a cool £2 m.

The draw for the early rounds of the Cup is expected within the next fortnight.

On the other hand, the prize money on offer in the FA Vase has virtually doubled in every round.

A club which begins in the first qualifying round and goes all the way to the final can collect over £31,000. The winners pick up £15,000, and the semi final winners £6,000.

There were situations last season when clubs lost money in some long distance FA Vase ties, and the FA underwrote some losses. Gate receipts are split 50-50 between the clubs after travel expenses and other costs are taken into account, but in some cases clubs were looking at deficits of up to £1,000

Prize money in the FA Trophy has quadrupled in some rounds, and makes the competition more attractive. For example, clubs winning second round ties will pick up £4,000 as opposed to £1,000 last season. A club starting in the qualifying round and reaching the last sixteen can now collect nearly £15,000, as opposed to £5,000 a year ago.

DURHAM FA have formed a new County Under 18 league, beginning next season, and have managed to find a sponsor.

DFA haven't announced who the sponsor is, or how much is being put into the new league, but the details will be announced at a meeting of clubs on July 7th.

Secretary John Topping says: "This is a new and exciting venture which will eitehr give the clubs the opportunity to eitehr set up, or continue playing football at under 18 level on Saturdays.

"We are aware that several factors have resulted in clubs disbanding, one of which has been members wishing to support their local professional or non-professional clubs, and therefore it is expected that a move from the traditional afternoon kick off mayb e agreed bertween memebers clubs."

Mr Topping can be contacted on 0191 3848653.

ANDY Toman decided to return to Peterlee as manager in midweek.

Toman quit as boss at the end of the season after helping Peterlee pull off a Houdini style escape from relegation. From being well adrift of fourth bottom at the end of March, Peterlee managed to overhaul Prudhoe, who went down instead.

Toman said: "I want to give the job another go," he said.

"I've had financial assurances from the committee. They've reduced the finance, but I'm prepared to work with that.

"I have a lot of time for the players at the club. I took quite a few of them there during the season, and they didn't let the club down.

"I've had a couple of clubs on the phone, but I've decided to stay."

SHILDON have arranged to play Northern Counties East League club Glasshoughton in a pre-season friendly on Saturday July 26th, kick off 3pm.

WEST Auckland have agreed to put defender Ray Stanger on the transfer list at his own request.

Stanger has decided to seek pastures new, but he appears to be in a minority as the rest of the squad appear to be comfortable with the arrival of new manager Peter Mulcaster, who said: "I've spoken to all of the players, apart from two. I've had a positive response from them, and generally I'm quite pleased."

West begin pre-season training on July 1. Meanwhile, defender Mark Foster is being pursued by UniBond clubs Spennymoor and Whitby.

NEW Northern League club Benfield Saints are looking for a new manager already.

Alan Bell guided Benfield to promotion from the Northern Alliance into the Northern League last season, but he has decided to move over the river as manager of Gateshead Reserves. His brother Derek is manager of the first team.

The club is looking for a successor, and former Whitley Bay manager Andy Gowens has been mentioned.