MARC STAMP,STAR Writer

After struggling in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) for much of this season, Sporting Central Academy FC could be in further trouble, a week before the close of the January transfer window.

The Clarendon team could lose top player Francois Swaby to fellow parish club Humble Lion.

Swaby is among three players Humble Lion have looked at to help bolster their chances of finishing in a top-four play-off spot.

Defender Gregory Lewis and Kevon Reid appear to be done deals. However, the Clarendon clubs remain in negotiation over Swaby.

"Negotiations for Reid and Lewis are almost final. However, the deal for Swaby is not yet completed," president of Sporting Central Ainsley Lowe told STAR Sports yesterday.

"The players want more money and we won't hold them back," he said. Sporting Central are in danger of relegation, currently in ninth position on 20 points, two adrift of last-place Barbican.

Lowe admitted that it is a bad time for his club to be losing top players.

Difficult time

"It is a very difficult period for us to try to rebuild. Over the years, we have found players and sent them out abroad and also here. Our focus is on opportunities for players overseas as well as locally," the club's boss said.

Lowe is confident that the club will recover and remain in the nation's top-flight football league. "We know that winning the league is not possible, but relegation is not in my mind," he said.

Sporting suffered a big 6-2 loss to Tivoli Gardens in their last league game at Juici Park on Sunday, and Lowe said they had only 12 players available because of injuries and sickness.

Speedy recovery

"We will continue to bring in young players and also hope that those injured players recover soon. My part is to get players ready," he said.

Meanwhile, Mike Henry, chairman of Humble Lion, confirmed his club's interest in the three players. "We are in discussion with Sporting Central and awaiting a response from Mr Lowe," Henry told STAR Sports yesterday.

"The players came to us, and we approached Sporting Central as the players career is paramount," he said.