WITH two fiercely-supported Premier League teams there’s no doubt about the popularity of football across East Lancashire.

But it’s not just the big teams that grab interest as scores of people give time to a whole host of teams from our 16 towns and smaller communities week in and week out.

It is not easy keeping teams going in these lower leagues both in terms of finding volunteers to perform various duties and, vitally, to keep enough cash flowing to keep the bailiffs from the door.

Even East Lancashire’s third ‘big’ team, Accrington Stanley, has faced serious problems in recent weeks and the threat of winding-up proceedings.

But as stalwart Eric Whalley’s 14-year reign as chairman came to end yesterday, it is good that Dave O’Neil, who is likely to complete his takeover at the end of the week, has vowed to bring stability back to the club.

Meanwhile, in Darwen, it looks as if the town’s club could be back in business within a week under the new name of Darwen AFC.

This is great news to the whole community.

No town the size of Darwen deserves to be without its own thriving football team.