A FOOTBALL club whose pitch collapsed into a ten-metre wide crater could learn its fate by the end of the week.

Contractors drilled boreholes at the Tow Law Town ground on Monday, to investigate the cause of subsidence, which occured last week.

If old mine workings are to blame, the Coal Authority will meet restoration bills, which could run into many thousands of pounds.

Otherwise the club would have to find the money to pay for the work, and could go out of business.

Officials may ask the Albany Northern League to reverse some fixtures so that home matches planned for the early part of the season are played away.

The other option is to accept an offer from Evenwood Football Club to share its ground.

Assistant secretary Steve Moralee said: "The offer came from Evenwood secretary Alison Houlahan on Sunday night.

"We are extremely grateful for their offer and have been in touch to thank them. We have 14 home games to play during the season.

"The drillers have told us we should know by the end of the week what the results are and then we will know what we are dealing with."