Before the season even started his aim was survival and when the points were coming five at a time that was still his ambition.

Maynard knew that Bees might be able to cause a nuisance but were not really in a position to compete all season long against full-time outfits with playing budgets three or four times his £400,000.

Bees lost 19-10 to the £1.5million squad of Penzance and Newlyn on Saturday in a match they could have won with the blessing of the rugby gods and a referee who applied the offside law.

Maynard is not only facing fully professional sides, he is also having to compete with £100,000 or so lopped from his playing budget - to help pay for the £125,000 stand.

He said: "The league rules were that we had to have 800 covered seats."

The cost was to have come from three years' season tickets at £500 each. As few were taken up the money had to come from the playing budget.

The club has a big members meeting on January 19 and Maynard said: "I want to see the members show willing to see the way forward for the club."

And that, said Maynard, means becoming a full-time, professional outfit.

If Bees move in that direction Maynard, who runs an autoelectrics business, says he is willing to consider joining them.

He said: "The point of the meeting is to brainstorm our knowledgable members as to the way forward.

"With a million playing budget we could be more than a nuisance. We would be on a par with the top half of the league."

With scrum-half Paul Knight expected back on Saturday at home to London Welsh, Bees are virtually at full-strength.

Maynard said: "It shows. We should have won at Penzance.

"I am actually looking forward to Saturday's game and I have not been looking forward to games for the last two months."

Birmingham Evening Mail icBirmingham.com