THE future of Rossendale United looks bleak after they were expelled from the North West Counties League on Saturday.

The Stags were not represented at the league’s annual meeting and had failed to pay their membership fee by the deadline leaving officials no option other than to vote them out.

The expulsion of 113-year-old Rossendale United has been described as a “sad day for football in the Valley”.

The decision marks another low point in a miserable 2011 for the club, which saw the water supply to their Dark Lane home cut off in February because of unpaid bills.

Then manager Paul Colgan walked out on the club, taking his coaching staff with him.

Former chairman Steve Hobson quit in December but owner Andrew Connolly managed to keep the club going after that blow with Chris Brookes taking over the team until the end of the season.

They finished in the North West Counties League Premier Division relegation places but in a twist of fate, would have been spared relegation after Formby were demoted for a breach of FA rules.

In a statement, the North West Counties League said: “Rossendale United have given no indication to the League Management Committee that they wish to remain members of the league for season 2011-12, and have not paid their league membership fee by the required deadline.

“No representative from Rossendale United attended the AGM to offer any explanation as to the club’s status.

“This issue, coupled with non-payment of other fines and general maladministration over the past few months, has led to the League Management Committee taking the decision to expel Rossendale United from the League.”

Only last month there was a stark warning that United would have to quit Dark Lane if they were to have any chance of continuing with vandalism a growing problem at the ground.

Some fans had pointed an accusing finger in the direction of Connolly, wanting him to take on the day-to-day running of the club.

However, he always insisted he never wanted to be ‘hands-on’ with the club and tried to sell the Stags in 2009.

Connolly is currently out of the country but the Lancashire Telegraph understands that a group would be prepared to form a new club should the present one fold.

Former manager Derek Egan said: “The club relied on volunteers for many, many years and I think it is interesting that the North West Counties League ran out of patience with the club.

"I actually think a lot of the volunteers have run out of patience with the owner.

“Eventually people who have put their heart and soul into the club have no option other than to walk away and I think that is what has happened.

“But it is a very sad day for football in the Valley.”