A CRICKET club has slashed its crippling debt from £103,000 to £78,000 in just 18 months and is looking forward to a brighter future.

But Colne Cricket Club is now appealing for businesses and fans to donate cash to its appeal to help make it profitable again.

An existing loan from Marston’s Brewery spiralled out of control after the recession hit, and a slump in beer sales left the Byron Road club with hefty penalty fees and interest charges.

Officials battled hard to keep the club running ensuring cricket was still played at the Horsfield ground and a new committee took over the reins in March 2016.

Since then, the committee, players and members have worked exceptionally hard to reduce the debt owed to the brewery.

Chairman Gary Hunt said huge inroads had been made to keep the club operating but now they needed companies to donate cash to help them out of their financial difficulties.

The 54-year-old said: “We are asking businesses, club members and the public for help because it would be such a shame if this institution of the town folded.

“A lot of progress has been made but we need help from others to clear the debt to ensure Colne Cricket Club has a bright future.”

Colne Cricket Club, which was established in 1830 and is the oldest in the Lancashire league, has launched a Hall of Fame for all those who donate.

Gary, who also captained the club, said: “The current committee inherited a considerable amount of debt to Marston’s Brewery, and has done incredibly well to reduce this to £78,000 in such a short space of time.

“However, we still have a long way to go and the hard work has to continue to completely clear the debt.

“We are now looking for extra impetus to clear this debt.”

Gary also revealed the club approached Natwest,official sponsors of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), with a rescue package but they refused to bail them out.

Gary said: “We have banked with them for more than 30 years and but they said they couldn’t help.

“The reason they gave was the bank didn’t want to be responsible for closing down a club which was such a big part of the community.

“A few months later they closed the branch in town.”

And the grandson of Colne’s all-time record run scorer and wicketkeeper Ellis Dickinson has become involved with the appeal after hearing of the club’s plight.

Jan Dickinson, co-owner of Scruples menswear in Barrowford, said: “I was approached by Gary and decided to help because the club was a big part of my grandad’s life.

“We have approached local businesses to become involved and contribute and the response has been positive.

“But it is a community club and we would love everyone to get involved.

“We are determined to get the club back into the black so it will be here for another 180 years.”

All those who donate will have their name inscribed on to the Hall of Fame.