THE show must go on for Turton football club as they continue to make improvements to their grounds despite being rocked by news by West Lancashire League officials that they may not be promoted next season.

It is a week since Turton FC chairman Peter Gray found out the heart-breaking news that they would be denied their place in the Premier Division due to a failure to meet a ground requirement deadline.

It came after West Lancashire League sides were told at the annual meeting in June last year that improvements to their grounds had to be made by a March 31 deadline.

Work continues to take place on the Thomason Fold ground but in the meantime legal routes are being explored and have further meetings planned over the next week.

Gray said: “The management, players and all involved with the club have worked too hard for us to give up on this. Until there are no more avenues for us to go down we will keep exploring and fighting.”

The club has received widespread support with 2,600 signatures on an online petition to encourage league officials to have a re-think and allow them to take their place in the Premier Division.

Ex-Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce and Bury boss David Flitcroft have supported Turton last week as featured in the Bolton News.

Gray added: “These last seven days, whilst frustrating, are still hugely exciting for the club, as the ground improvements started last Monday.

“We are still carrying on with these improvements as planned regardless of any outcome.

“This involves pitch works and the building of brand new changing rooms and equipment storage.

“It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work by the committee and others.

“Seeing all the work taking place at the ground this week has been great to see.

“These will be fantastic facilities when finished... whatever division we are in.”

Once completed these works will ensure the club is fully compliant will all FA ground criteria for the level of football they want to compete at.

The club has spent the week in talks with the Lancashire FA and the Football Association itself about its next step and options in it’s bid to gain the promotion they feel they deserve.

Turton previously argued they could not make the improvements by the March 31 deadline as heavy machinery would have been driving on pitches and would have cut up the playing surface.