SUPPORTERS of a battling football club in East Lancashire has been left counting the cost of an arson attack.

Firefighters were alerted to a blaze at Rossendale United’s ground in Dark Lane, Newchurch, in the early hours yesterday.

Crews from Bacup and Rawtenstall stations attended the incident, just before 2.50am, but were unable to save a cabin which was well alight.

The fire is the latest setback for the Rossendale club, which faced a struggle for survival earlier this year.

Only a rallying effort by former players and supporters enabled the North West Counties League outfit to fulfill its fixture list after former chairman Steve Hobson and a number of other leading club officials quit.

Shortly after the rescue deal was cemented, the social club, tea hut and club shop were broken into by thieves at the Newchurch ground and various items were stolen.

Club officials were left picking through the rubble at the ground yesterday morning but there was little to salvage.

Club supporter Malcolm Lord, in a post on the club’s website, said: “It would appear that the programme hut and the souvenir hut was the one that was set ablaze.

“It now no longer exists.

“This is yet another nail in the coffin of Rossendale United FC.

“The way things are going I can’t see there being a club or facilities next season.”

Fire brigade spokesman John Taylor added: “The building was completely destroyed by the fire.

“The indications were that the blaze had been deliberately set.”