Barnoldswick United have shelved plans to join the North West Counties League.

The West Lancashire League club had hoped to figure in the end-of-season restructuring of the Non League scene but decided that time and money was against them.

A NWCL ground grading committee inspection revealed that United had until April to carry out improvements to reach the standards required.

While it is a setback for the ambitious club, secretary Lynn James said that they will not be put off from applying some time in the future.

She said: "It has always been our aim to reach the minimum standards required by the North West Counties League. Unfortunately, the goal posts have shifted slightly in the last couple of years and the standard required has gone up.

"But that has not put us off and we will try again some time in the future."

The inspection revealed that the club had to enclose its ground properly, build new changing rooms for teams and officials and install covered seating and a PA system. There were also concerns about access in to the ground at Victory Park.

"We looked at the time scale and the money required and decided that it simply wasn't feasible. Another problem was that every club in the league for the 2005/06 season needed floodlights.

"So we could have been in the situation of being accepted for next season but then thrown out the following year."

Mrs James said the club is continuing to work to upgrade the ground and is hoping to attract Lottery funding and planning permission for floodlights.

Barnoldswick were formed in 1972 and joined the West Lancs League six years ago. The club won the Division Two title and gained promotion from Division One in to the Premier League.

However, the club has struggled this season, ironically due to the success of neighbours Colne and Nelson in the North West Counties League.

"We have to make sure we get it right and that means on the pitch as well as off. We our ambitious and we want to continue to progress through the Non League pyramid but we have to make sure we have the funding available.

"This would have been an ideal time to have made the move because of the re-structuring. Unfortunately, we had more work to do than we initial thought."