FOOTBALL officials and councillors are joining forces to secure funding for the future of Accrington Stanley.

Hyndburn Council is to set up a cross-party group that will work with community leaders and key figures at the club to find ways of bringing in cash to the League Two side.

The Accrington Stanley Facilitation Group will be set up in the next couple of weeks and will hold bi-monthly meetings to research sources of grants.

Speaking at a full council meeting, council leader Peter Britcliffe said: "Accrington Stanley's place in the league was hanging by a thread. We have to consider the excellent work they do with limited means.

"I would love to say here's £6m for a new stadium with a high-tech running track, but we do not have the money."

In the past the club has accused the council of failing to support it and turned down the Freedom of the Borough last December.

Coun Britcliffe said the new group was not a councillatory gesture to the club.

He added: "We had a meeting and ironed out our differences.

"The club is very important to us. It is one of the key things in putting Accrington and district on the map.

"We, as a council, could be doing far more to open doors for Stanley."

Extra funding would be used to improve or relocate the Livingstone Road ground and provide facilities that could be used by the wider community.

Accrington Stanley chairman Eric Whalley said that the club's future could depend on the new group.

He said: "I have got to be honest. We have the worst facilities in the Football League.

"This should not be a political issue. Everybody should get on board to make this a real family club."