ONE of the country's most famous football clubs faces defeat in its long-running battle for survival after councillors voted to evict it from its historic ground.

A bitter battle over a lease could see County Durham club Spennymoor United homeless after 100 years at its Brewery Fields stadium.

The club is involved in legal wrangles with Spennymoor Town Council over a lease renewal.

The present problem started when the club was forced to change from a corporate body to a limited company to combat cashflow problems.

The changeover was the result of crisis talks after the club faced bankruptcy at the beginning of last year.

However, complications have arisen in the changeover of the lease from the old club to the new company, and the council has told the club it is now "trespassing".

Spennymoor Town Council confirmed yesterday it has started forfeiture proceedings against the old club.

Town council clerk Terry Robson said: "The council has resolved to take forfeiture proceedings against the old members club, which is still in existence, for transferring the lease without authority and allowing occupation of the ground without authority and for non-payment of the rent.''

Mr Robson said individual councillors would be sending letters out to the club's supporters this week to explain the situation.

He added that, since 1987, the council had pumped almost £250,000 worth of loans into the club.

He said: "The council does not want to see the football club disappear. There is no doubt about that. I think it shows in the amount of money we have spent."

Football club chairman Barrie Hindmarch said: "I wrote to the town council some time ago about the reassignment of the club lease and have not had a reply. They have offered a much- reduced term at a much-increased rental. The last lease had 43 years to run.

"I cannot see the problem of transferring that lease to the new club so that we can keep football in Spennymoor. It is not as if the company is going to make a profit out of this."