Clitheroe Football Club has announced plans to redevelop part of its ground to a tune of £40,000 or face expulsion from the league.

Clitheroe FC has submitted an application to the borough council to replace the current changing rooms which are on their ‘last legs’ after being constructed in 1998.

The club, which was founded in 1877 as Clitheroe Central, also wants to build a new toilet block, due to league ground rules that they must be separate from the clubhouse, which they currently are not.

If the planning permission is not granted and the work is not completed before the start of the 2014/ 2015 season, The Blues could be kicked out of The Evo-Stik League First Division North.

A grant application to fund half of the £40,000 bill for the work at the Shaw Bridge Street ground has been submitted by the club to the Football Foundation.

The club has also announced its intention to set up a youth team for the start of next season.

Andrew Jackson, the club’s spokesman and finance director, said: “The changing rooms that we have at the moment are on their last legs and are in need of replacing.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed the planning application is accepted as soon as possible so we can get on with improving the club.

“The toilets are the main issue because the league rules state that they need to be separate from the clubhouse.

“If the application isn’t approved then there is a possibility that we could be kicked out of the league.

“We would like the work to be completed for the start of next season.

“The changing rooms are in a state at the moment and it would be great to redevelop them.”