Bedford Blues deals rely on play-offs, says Mike Rayer

Rayer's men have won two out of four play-off matches

Bedford Blues boss Mike Rayer says his squad-building for next year will be affected by his side's progress in the Championship play-offs.

Rayer told BBC Three Counties Radio he is in talks with a number of players over contracts.

And he added: "If you all of a sudden don't reach a semi-final then that has financial implications for the club.

"The chairman's released a certain amount of the budget so far and that's what I'm working to."

The Blues received a blow to their hopes of getting through the group stage of the competition with defeat at home to Doncaster last week.

And Rayer's squad have been rattled even further with the news scrum-half Ian Vass will be out for six months after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.

Bedford travel to Cornish Pirates on Sunday to face a side who have won all four of their play-off encounters so far.

"We probably can't afford any more blips, we'll be relying on other results if we do," Rayer said.

"It's a must-win game for us but at the same time nobody's expecting us to go down there and get a result.

"It's a serious job ahead of us and we're looking to go down there and give it a good crack."