A 129-year-old football club that resigned from the Vodkat League earlier this summer still has a long-term future, according to its chairman.

Nelson FC’s Alan Pickering announced the club’s decision to resign from the league in July, citing the reasons as spiralling costs combined with a lack of volunteers to help with the day-to-day running of the club and a lack of sponsors.

Since then there had been fears over the future of the club’s Victoria Park ground, known locally as ‘Little Wembley’.

But despite the omission of the historic club’s senior teams from the league, its junior infrastructure has remained intact and Mr Pickering said plans were in place to enter the current under 18s side in the first division in 12 months’ time.

Speaking for the first time since announcing the club’s resignation from the league, he explained the reasons behind his decision.

He said: “All the help dwindled and then my dad died. He had been involved in this club for 50 years.

"Even when he wasn’t well he used to give me a lot of support.

"He would take the bins out, clean the toilets - do whatever was needed.

“We were down to a handful of helpers on matchdays and our main sponsor had pulled out, so I became so despondent at that point.

"Even when the help started dwindling we were winning and yet our attendances were dropping.

“I just thought ‘what am I doing it for?’ I’ve spent £60,000 of my own money on the club in the last eight years. It wasn’t worth it.”

The club is still leasing the ground from Pendle Council.

As well as the junior teams, Colne United and Burnley FC Ladies are using the pitch.

Colin Patten, Pendle Council’s parks and recreation services manager, said: "The lease is shortly to come to a natural conclusion.

“We are working with the football club to see where we should go with a new lease or a termination. Nothing has been resolved at the moment.

"The only certainty is that no other football club has gained or been offered a lease."