PLAYERS at a bowls club, which is facing financial crisis, are threatening not to renew their membership.

As reported in The Northern Echo last month, Darlington and District Indoor Bowls Club was refused a handout from Darlington Borough Council for its premises at Morrisons, in North Road.

Club officials asked the council for a sum to pay for repairs at the centre, competition sponsorship and a four-year rent-free agreement.

Morrisons rents the space to the council, which leases it to the bowls club. But both the supermarket and the council decided they could not offer the club financial support.

Following the council's refusal, a letter was sent to members appealing for help in selling lottery tickets and recruiting new bowlers.

The letter from the club read: "We have to attract and interest the public to visit and to use the centre."

It added that, without members' help, the lifespan of the bowls centre could be down to months or even weeks.

But some members are considering leaving the club after saying they knew nothing of the cash crisis until reading of it in The Northern Echo.

One member, who asked not to be named, said: "Things like this should not be kept a secret from members".

"We have heard all sorts of rumours about the club and we want some answers."

He said members were asked for a one-off payment of £50 as well as the £26 annual membership and £3 per game.

"We can't afford this money, especially those of us who are pensioners," he said.

"The club has lost about 1,000 members in the last two years and they will lose a lot more if they force us to pay more money and don't answer our questions."

The members claim their concerns have been ignored by the club's officials, led by Joe Burrows.

Despite repeated calls to the club by The Northern Echo, Mr Burrows declined to discuss the allegations