BOLTON Pioneer Sunday League are hoping they can overcome financial issues in order to reform next season.

The league, which folded two years ago, is interested in re-starting provided they can get enough teams to enter.

However, the organising committee of Ian Brigg, Paddy Johnson and Ian Allen admit that this is easier said than done once the cost of starting up a team is taken into consideration.

The main financial burden on teams is the cost of using a pitch during a season.

Each pitch around the borough is graded, with the best pitches, Newhouse Farm and Harper Green, currently costing £510 per team per season. The lowest banded pitches at Queens Park cost £365 to use. The prices are set by Bolton Metro.

Clubs then have to pay for kits, nets, league subscription fees and insurance. It is this burden which threatens to undermine Bolton Pioneer League's plans to reform.

"We have had four teams approach us about starting up again, and it is something we want to do," said Brigg.

"We hope to revive it, but we have to get 11 or 12 teams if that is to be the case.

"We just hope that teams won't be priced out. The price of pitches is killing football.

"For a team to start up from scratch, it will cost about £1,000. Teams cannot afford that unless they have a sponsor.

"Teams are being priced out really. I agree that the pitches are good, and teams can't complain about the quality of them.

"A few of them have had their drains done, and I wonder if they are trying to recoup some money.

"I think that, if the price of playing was brought down, more lads would get involved with amateur football teams."

Bolton Council, however, believes their prices are fair and reflect the investment they put into maintaining the standard of the pitches.

"We regularly compare our charges against those of other local authorities in Greater Manchester - and ours are extremely competitive," said Bolton Council press officer Alf Atkinson. "In fact we would argue that the charges that we make do not cover the cost of routine maintenance, but we aim to encourage as many people as possible to enjoy sports and help keep fit.

"Just four years ago we invested £400,000 at New House Farm, where an adult team will pay around £500 a year to play their home games.

That is only 20 per cent of the estimated costs of £2,500 a year to run a team.

"We have staff on duty and we rota to fit in with club games so we feel that the clubs are getting value for money in pitch hire.

"We are really pleased to have seen the massive growth in mini and junior soccer and seven-a-side teams pay just £80 a season.

"In the past, clubs have raised various matters but specific fees for hiring pitches has never been raised as an issue."