CHORLEY Lynx are to close down after losing their perennial battle for survival.

The Lancashire club, who say they are losing £1,000 a week, have told the Rugby Football League they will cease to operate after Sunday's final LHF National League Two match of the season against York.

Chorley's directors took the decision at a board meeting following the decision of local businessman Trevor Hemmings to end his backing.

"It's a shame but you can only do so much," said chairman Henry Morris, who has been involved with the club for the last seven years.

"At this moment we can't see any other way around it. Basically, we don't get the people through the turnstiles.

"But the club is totally debt-free so, if somebody else wants to take it over, there will be no skeletons coming out of the cupboard."

Chorley were formed in 1989 but their roots can be traced back to the old Blackpool Borough club from the 1950s. They have enjoyed a chequered career, with frequent changes of name and venue, and reached the final of the Anglo-French Treize Tournoi in 1998.

They finished second in National League Two last year but drew an average crowd of just 434 - only London Skolars and Gateshead had lower attendances - and just 369 spectators watched their last home match.

In a statement the club say: "It with regret that the directors of Chorley Lynx find it necessary to close the club at the end of this season.

"The club was taken over from Preston North End four years ago to resurrect rugby league in Chorley and during this time we had hoped to build a bigger fan base but unfortunately this has not happened.

"Summer rugby, Sunday rugby and Sky television have also helped to keep potential fans away. Financial support of £1,000 per week has been needed to sustain the club and this can no longer continue.

"We would like to thank the small and very loyal group of supporters for their efforts and we know they will be devastated with this decision."

The news will be a blow to coach Mark Lee, the former St Helens and Salford player who has made a good impression is in his first season as a head coach after succeeding Darren Abram.

It is also a setback for the League, who were hoping to attract a 34th professional club for the start of the 2006 season to even up the numbers following Perpignan's entry into Super League.

The Lynx bring the curtain down on another season tomorrow when championship hopefuls York visit Victory Park (kick-off 3pm).

For Lynx it will be a case of what might have been, six games ago Lynx were firmly entrenched in the play-off places, but a disastrous run has seen them pick up only two points with draws against Dewsbury and Barrow and this has seen their play-off hopes evaporate for another season.

Last weekend they slumped to a surprise defeat away at much improved London Skolars after holding a half time advantage.

Lynx had a lot of the pressure but failed to turn that pressure into points. Lee will be hoping the centre Jamie Stenhouse will be fit to return as well as long-term injury victim Gary O'Regan who has missed most of the league programme with a broken ankle.