COMMUNITY football coaches and leisure centre workers are facing the axe after Burnley FC revealed its charitable arm was set to close.

Club officials said that Burnley Community Sports Trust, which operates Turf Moor Leisure Centre, Turf Moor Enterprise Haven and the Community Coaching Team, has entered a 30-day period of consultation with its entire workforce of more than 30 staff.

The move could spell the end for the leisure centre, which is situated opposite the James Hargreaves Stand and has 400 members, as well as the enterprise haven, which provides office space for fledgling businesses.

Football coaches who carry out ‘vital’ work with local schools, community groups and youth clubs could also be left out of a job.

Yesterday community leaders said any loss of services would be a huge blow to the town and described the move as “hugely disappointing”.

Turf Moor officials said the withdrawal of Government funding from the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative scheme in March had made it difficult for the trust to continue.

Since then the club has funded the trust but bosses said it could not afford to continue doing.

They said the decision to enter a period of consultation with employees had been made after every opportunity to make it a self-sufficient business had been explored.

Officials vowed to continue to support the community in other ways even if the trust is axed.

People who have benefited from the work of the trust described the news as a ‘blow’ for the town and Gordon Birtwistle, MP for Burnley, said the club should do all it could to continue its ‘successful’ work in the community.

He said: “It is the community that supports the football club, so this is a way of returning the favour.

“I would hope that the club realises that and continues to carry out work in the community, as it has done very successfully in recent years.”

Community leaders in Padiham said members of the trust’s Community Coaching Team had made a big difference to youngsters in the town by joining forces with Padiham Youth Centre and Lancashire County Council to run five-a-side football on Friday nights.

Town Coun Jean Cunningham said: “The kids really really enjoy the football coaching. We are trying to do all we can to keep them off the streets, so how this will effect them I dread to think.”

Coun Andy Tatchell said: “Any loss would be of grave concern.”

The enterprise haven provides modern and affordable office space to new businesses.

David Howarth, who ran his Louvre Ties firm out of the centre, said: “It was really good. It gave me a leg up and there were some good companies in there, all offering to help each other.

“The address was really useful, clients from large companies came to see me just because I was in there.”

A Burnley FC spokesman said: “Unfortunately, after every option has been examined, it has emerged that the trust cannot be run viably and will continue to cost Burnley FC considerable sums of money each year to subsidise its operating losses.

“We can reaffirm that BFC is committed to supporting its local community but will explore other ways to show that support.”