Two weeks after the Worksop Guardian revealed the club had been locked out of their Sandy Lane ground, there are still no answers as to why, or what the future holds.

With the leaseholder of Sandy Lane, Mr Howard Raymond, unavailable for comment, the club is unsure as to whether they will have a home next season.

The window for necessary maintainence work on the pitch to get it ready before next season has been missed, and this week a perimeter fence was mysteriously removed.

But Tigers are still in the dark as to why they have been locked out.
The issue has been complicated further with the news that four members of the Worksop Town Supporters Club have resigned, following a series of meetings this week to try and galvanise Tigers supporters.

Club officials met with representatives of both the Supporters Club and the 1861 Tigers Trust last Friday to hold clear-the-air talks and ask for statements of support for the club's stance in the lockout, specifically to ascertain whether the Supporters Club football team would accept an offer from 1861 Leisure to play their Sunday League games on Sandy Lane next season.

It is believed that if a Sunday side agrees to play on the pitch, that would fulfill the requirement of the lease between Bassetlaw Council and 1861 Leisure to ensure football is played at Sandy Lane – but this would leave Tigers in limbo.

On Wednesday, the Supporters Club held their own meeting and chairman Dave Savage, along with three of his committee, resigned.

A statement from Worksop Town FC claimed the Supporters Club football team had reached an agreement with 1861 Leisure to hold their games at Sandy Lane next season.

Club chairman John Hepworth said that they had asked supporters to distance themselves from the actions of 1861 Leisure Ltd in locking the club out of the ground.

Also that the Supporters Club ask their members to refrain from using the clubhouse premises whilst the club remains excluded from the ground.
Mr Hepworth added in a statement: "Following the Supporters Club committee meeting, the football club has been informed that four committee members have resigned from the committee."

"The football club has been informed that it is the intention of the Sunday League team to play on the Sandy Lane pitch next season under a different name, no longer being part of the Supporters Club."

But former Supporters Club chairman Dave Savage denies that the Sunday League team have agreed to play at Sandy Lane.

He told the Guardian: "I have resigned and the Sunday football team is no longer anything to do with the Supporters Club, it's now called 1861 FC."

"We have been asked to play on the pitch next season by 1861 Leisure, everyone knows it's up for grabs and teams from Mansfield, Sheffield and Worksop have been offered the pitch."

"No decision has been made, but if we don't take the offer, someone else will and they might not look after the ground."

"We would move aside if the Tigers were to move back on to the ground but a team from Mansfield might not."

Mr Savage says the reasons for his resignation stem from the political nature of the lock out and the rumours flying around.

He said: "The supporters are suffering here and no one else. There are so many lies going round, people are putting libellous statements on the internet forum and the two factions, the football club and 1861 Leisure, need to get together with the council and sort something out."

Meanwhile the 1861 Tigers Trust have called for Tigers fans to boycott the facilities at Sandy Lane, to show their backing for the club in the dispute with 1861 Leisure Ltd.

A statement said: "The 1861 Tigers Trust Board are recommending to their full membership not to use the clubhouse while Worksop Town Football Club are locked out of their Sandy Lane home."

"The present and very difficult situation which the football club are faced with will get the full support and help from the Supporters Trust to attain a favourable outcome.

"One hundred and forty-seven years in existence with a long and proud history should not be given up without a fight."

The Guardian this week attempted to obtain a statement from Howard Raymond, directly and also via his solicitor, but none had been received as the Guardian went to press yesterday.