There's no fun in visiting Las Vegas and not being able to afford to gamble, but that is the situation facing Watford FA Cup hero Stephen Glass.

Like 900 other Nationwide League professionals, Glass is out-of-contract now the season has ended and facing an uncertain future.

BBC TV viewers saw Glass curl in a brilliant free-kick against Burnley in the FA Cup quarter-finals eight weeks ago.

It hasn't altered the fact that Watford can't afford to renew his contract and now the big question is - can anybody else?

"It's a worrying time. I'm only 26 and if I had to stop playing now, I would struggle because I am not qualified for anything else," says Glass, who has been capped Scotland and played for Newcastle in the 1999 FA Cup Final.

"My wife Carla loves living in the south but I've told my agent I will accept offers from anywhere because beggars can't be choosers.

"I have been a regular in the First Division this year and played in an FA Cup semi-final so obviously I hope someone will come in for me. I'm leaving for holiday in Las Vegas on May 13 and would love something to be sorted out before then so I can relax and enjoy myself. Otherwise, I don't think my wife will allow me onto the tables."

Glass, whose season ended against Sheffield United on Sunday, was signed by Gianluca Vialli at the height of the wages boom in 2001. But like all this summer's Bosmans, even the lucky players who do get clubs will have to take drastic wage cuts.

"I can see players earning 25% of what they have been used to," says current Watford manager Ray Lewington.

"It's a terrible situation for everyone concerned. I was told the club needs to save £4million on the wage bill so everyone whose contract has run out will be leaving even though as a manager I would love to keep them.

"I think there will be close to a thousand players looking for clubs."

The serious plight, caused largely by the collapse of ITV Digital, is underlined by the fact that Watford didn't even consider keeping Glass on even though he is a first-team regular.

"I would have been prepared to stay at lower wages but nobody from the club came to me to even test the water," he reveals. "It just shows how serious it is. One of my best mates Craig Ireland is in the same boat at Notts County. We started together at Aberdeen and he's getting married in the summer not really sure if he will have a job next season. It is worrying and we are talking about guys who have played all season, not been injured or left in the reserves."

The list of players who will be sitting anxiously by the phone this weekend makes sober reading.

They include 13 players from Burnley given their cards on Friday, well-known names like Marco Gabbiadini - and one of the heroes of the season Nigel Jemson.

Jemson made back-page headlines in January when his goals knocked Everton out of the FA Cup.

The 33-year-old Shrewsbury striker once scored a League Cup Final winner for Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest at Wembley and has notched 43 goals in the last three seasons at Gay Meadow.

It all counts for nothing and he is hoping his old mate Andy Preece might achieve promotion at Bury to boost his chances of a move there.

"Nobody at Shrewsbury ever pulled me to one side and kept me abreast of what was happening. Now the club has been relegated, I don't think there is any chance of me playing for them again even though some fans want me to be the player-manager.

"I'm fortunate to have got a lot of publicity by doing well in the FA Cup. But I think it's just as important that I've shown I can play regularly and score goals over a season."

Interestingly, when asked about his options Jemson uses the same line as Glass: "Beggars can't be choosers."

"That is what I am hoping because there haven't been any firm approaches so far," said Glass.

"I still think I can play Premiership but there are good players without clubs and I would be foolish to rule anything out. I just want to play football."

Stephen Glass and Nigel Jemson were talking to Joe Bernstein

Did you know: Stoke City have 15 players out-of-contract; Burnley have 13.

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