Sponsor to rescue for football club

The future of Willenhall Town Football Club has been secured for at least another year after one of the town's biggest employers, Aspray 24, stumped up the cash to keep it going.

The haulage firm, sponsor of the Lockmen, has agreed to pay thousands of pounds in new pitch hire charges.

It was feared the charges could force the club out of its Noose Lane home of 35 years.

The support from the company, also based in Noose Lane, will allow the club to continue playing at the ground, which was opened by legendary Wolves manager Stan Cullis in 1975.

It is a welcome relief to the club, which went into administration last year and is facing relegation from the Unibond League, to the West Midlands Alliance.

Willenhall South councillor Sean Coughlan, who is on the committee at the club, said: "The pitch hire will cost around £5,500 a year which is an extra cost to us and something we have to find ourselves.

"Aspray has said this will be covered within its sponsorship deal which means we will be playing football at Noose Lane again next season.

"Everyone wants Willenhall FC to remain where it is."

The club went into administration in the summer as they owed landowners Marston's Brewery around £60,000. The freehold at the ground was put up for sale and a consortium linked to another football club, Mossley-based Sporting Khalsa, took it over.

It was announced last month the new owners were to introduce the new charges for Willenhall to stay at the ground.

Aspray managing director Stuart Laight said: "We have agreed to continue supporting the team to hopefully keep them going at Noose Lane."