SURVIVAL is the main ambition for Oxford City Lions manager Enrique Guillen after a troubled summer.

Fears that last season’s double champions might not be able to defend their crown arose when Lions lost their entire squad following their UEFA Futsal Cup preliminary round matches in Andorra.

Lions’ Super League South opener at home to West London was postponed on Sunday after they were unable to raise a side.

But they will begin their title defence this weekend away to Genesis following successful meetings.

“We had a meeting and decided that we will carry on this season,” Guillen said.

“We had our first training session at the weekend and have five players signed on.

“If we combine them with the scholars we already have at the club we should be able to get a team together.”

With a young and inexperienced squad, Guillen does not anticipate a repeat of last season’s remarkable success.

But The Spaniard is determined to keep the club he founded from going under.

“I started this club from nothing and I don’t want to let it die,” he said. “I would be very sad to let it go and I’m going to do my best to make sure we can keep it going.

“Our objective this year is to stay in the league.”

“I’ll do my best to keep Oxford City at this level, but it’s not going to be easy because these young lads have never played futsal before.

“My first task has been to teach them the rules of the game.”