Ipswich Wanderers: The football club facing a stadium-upgrade deadline

Stephen Boyle has been chairman of Wanderers for five years, and has until 31 March to meet step four football regulations

Ipswich Wanderers won promotion to step four of the football pyramid last season but now face a battle to stay at that level - both on and off the pitch. As the team battles to stave off relegation, the backroom staff are also facing a deadline of 31 March to ensure its stadium and facilities are up to standard. What needs to be done?

Stephen Boyle is the chairman of the Isthmian North side and has a long list of jobs to do.

From installing turnstiles to adding new toilets, Mr Boyle says the task facing the club is "harder than winning a league title".

One of the changes needed for the club is an additional turnstile to be added

Wanderers currently play at step four of the football pyramid, following back-to-back promotions from step six.

Ground Grading is mandatory on a three-year cycle at all football grounds in the league pyramid. Promotion and all upward moves are subject to Ground Grading compliance.

Mr Boyle says it has been challenging.

"I've had sleepless nights over it. I'm not to proud to say that," he says.

"If there were other clubs at step five facing promotion I'd honestly question 'Do you really want to do it?'."

What needs to be done?

Upgrade requirements include another turnstile, additional spectator toilets, a further 40 seats and an extension on the away changing room.

The club recently installed another 40 seats, topping up their previous 110 to meet the requirements

Mr Boyle says without the help of volunteers, sponsors, local people and parents, the work required to transform Humber Doucy Lane would be "well into six figures", with the grant money they have received only covering about 7% of the costs incurred.

The club, who neighbour Ipswich Town's training ground, are having a difficult season sitting in 16th following back-to-back promotion seasons.

The chairman says the cost of required upgrades has impacted on investment in the squad.

"It's like going from the Championship to the Premier League - you have to triple playing expenses to compete," he says.

"It's the same at this level, but we have gone 50% the other way. We just don't have the money.

"You're left with a choice. Either accept relegation, put your money into Ground Grading but accept you'll go down. But be ready next time you go up.

"Or, you gamble, try to compete that has been really tough.

"Step four is really difficult because you're stuck between glorified local football with floodlights at step five, to step three, which is a sniff away in full-time football."

What happens if the deadline is not met?

Mr Boyle says failure to meet the deadline will result in both relegation and being unable to compete at step five play-off stages next season.

The club chairman said after the highs of promotions, the ordeal of arranging improvements sometimes made it feel "not worth it"

He adds: "Clubs are mostly run by volunteers. This is putting so much pressure on.

"The fact that it all has to be done in the first year of promotion, I think there should be a bit of tolerance.

"This last year has felt harder than trying to win a league title.

Mr Boyle says the club are determined to find solutions such as second-hand facilities and "botch jobs".

But he says he is "confident that the club will get there".

"You have to be resilient," he says. "That's the secret to our success. We never give in. We are passionate and we are very ambitious."