WRAYSBURY Village could soon be without football after a heated financial row between the Parish Council and its local club.

The two parties have failed to come to an agreement over an unpaid insurance policy at The Memorial Ground.

The council have repeatedly asked for audited accounts from Wraysbury Village Football Club and now served notice on the lease of the facility, which is due to end on May 31.

The Football Association does not require clubs to provide audited accounts and, since his return to the club in the summer, first team boss Jon Warrington has been unable to discuss the debt owed with the council.

The situation threatens to end 117 years of football in the village.

Margaret Lenton is chairman of the Parish Council and told the Observer: “What’s the point in going to meet with them when we go through the same stories and what can we say, we’re not a rich village.

“We strongly support football and the opportunity for people to take part in what is a very popular sport, but the club is in-properly run as what we require is basic information. We want to look into their audited accounts for the last three years.

“The club has a dispute with us but I would just like to know when they plan to pay their bills. They claim to have made a payment that our clerk has not received.”

It is believed the council have totalled the debt at around £2,800 though the football club estimate it to be no more than £1,000 and have refused further payment until a meeting is arranged.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Wraysbury Village first team manager Jon Warrington claims the Parish Council is jeopardising the future of young players by evicting the football club.

Warrington said: “We want to see players progress individually and as a football club, but we can’t do that without the support of the parish council. They are jeopardising the future of these young lads.

“All our approaches to the council have gone round in circles, and there is an historical debt being disputed as well.

“Last September, a motion was passed for the council to meet with the football club to discuss the debts but, over Christmas, they told us they no longer wish to meet us.

“We have agreed not to pay any more until we’ve sat down with the council to discuss it.

“The debt is only rising because the council will not sit down with us.”

What do you think? Is the Parish Council correct and fair to serve notice to the club on its lease of the Memorial Ground or should the two parties discuss the matter further?

E-mail your thoughts to rob.stevens@newsquest.co.uk or tweet me at @Robs_Sport.