Future of football club 'hangs in the balance'

FC Clacton was founded in the Essex town of Clacton-on-Sea in October 1892

The future of a football club due to be evicted from its ground "still hangs in the balance", its outgoing chairman said.

Tendring District Council (TDC) told FC Clacton it must leave Rush Green Bowl after failing to pay its bills.

Stepping down from the club, Stephen Andrews said fighting the decision had been "incredibly tough".

The council said it could not comment while legal action was ongoing.

FC Clacton is based on council-owned land at Rush Green recreation ground and has been used by the club since 1987.

It was served an eviction notice after the council claimed "years" of negotiations over bills had taken place.

'Extremely precarious'

Handing the reins over to new chairman Harry Underwood, Mr Andrews said: "Our future still hangs in the balance.

"I want to use my last words as chairman to once again beg TDC to please meet with Harry and the others to find a solution to keep this amazing club in existence."

The football club will also have to leave its clubhouse amid the dispute

Writing on the 132-year-old club's website, Mr Underwood said he was taking over at an "extremely precarious" moment.

"My first action as chairman has been to reach out to TDC via our solicitors and ask for an urgent meeting to try to find a resolution," he added.

The club was offered the chance to pay a one-off sum of £4,250 to lease the ground for the past seven years but failed to do so, the council previously said.

Peter Kotz, cabinet member for assets, said the taxpayer could not be left to "foot the bill".

Speaking to BBC Essex Sport after FC Clacton's 6-2 defeat to Little Oakley on Wednesday, assistant manager Jay Hall said: "It's been very, very, very tough, to be honest."

But he stressed news of a new chairman was a "positive" development.