LEDBURY Town Football Club is approaching a new season as a newly promoted side with no place to play.

The club's new committee is attempting to organise a new arrangement and an eleventh hour meeting with the owners of its historic ground, Property Services (Ledbury), now the chains are on the gates.

The committee is also organising a fund-raising drive, so Ledbury Town and Ledbury Town Reserves will have funds to compete in a new season in August, no matter where they kick off.

But the meeting with Property Services (Ledbury) is yet to take place.

The club's new chairman, John Preedy said: "The gates are chained. At the moment, we seem to be getting nowhere. Basically, we have nowhere to play. We have no income at the moment, as we can't use the club house.

"We are clutching at straws."

In January, the club announced it was "folding" because of financial pressures, including rent arrears reported at the time to be £4000.

Because of the situation, the club house could no longer be used as a facility; but Property Services (Ledbury) allowed the teams to play out the season on the ground, rent free.

The old first team had pulled out of the West Midlands Regional League in October 2014, following a run of poor results; but it was a different story with other sides.

The old reserves are now Ledbury Town, and they have won promotion to Herefordshire Premier Division; and the former Colts, now the Ledbury Town Reserves, are in the Herefordshire Second Division.

But if the sides are to play again at the New Street ground, if they are allowed, they need to find the rent.

Rent will also need to be found if they play elsewhere.

On August 1, a fund-raising sponsored Marathon Skittles Match will take place at Ledbury's Royal British Legion Club in Church Street, from 11am to 6pm.

It will feature present and past Ledbury players, and there will also be a prize draw with over 30 prizes.

Mr Preedy is hoping for big community support.

But he also hopes that, when the club meets with the ground's owners, that the club will once again be able to use the club house.

"This would raise money to help us pay the rent," he said.

Town Councillor, Bob Barnes, chairman of the Ledbury Sports Federation, urged local people to support the club's fund-raising efforts.

He said: "It is a sad situation. I am sure any support would be welcomed by the club. They have very keen players who want to continue."

Roy Green, a member of Property Services (Ledbury) said: "The club wants a meeting. I am sure there is no problem there. There will definitely be a meeting.

"There are arrangements to be made. It's already in the tray.

"This is a situation that could be sorted quite easily. That is my feeling."

But Mr Green also stressed that he was not the only member of Property Services (Ledbury).