Accrington Stanley and Chorley could be handed a relegation lifeline after UniBond League secretary Duncan Bayley confirmed Hucknall Town are struggling to meet ground-grading criteria.

The Nottinghamshire-based outfit are red-hot favourites to finish in the top two of the UniBond First Division along with current leaders Droylsden after opening up a five point gap over third-placed Ashton United over Easter.

But it's now looking increasingly likely that they won't get promoted after Bayley said he would be 'very surprised' if their Watnall Ground was up to Premier Division standards in time for the May deadline.

And that would mean a reprieve for the club finishing second bottom in the Premier Division, with Stanley and Chorley currently occupying the bottom two places.

"Hucknall have got a tremendous amount of work to do," said Bayley, following a report from the league's ground grading committee.

"I would respectfully suggest that it's unlikely they'll achieve it.

"They have until the end of May to carry out the work and what they have got to do is pretty significant.

"But it's not a question of trying to beat the deadline, it's a question of whether or not they are going to be able to do it. As well as money, there are a number of other factors which add to the problem such as planning permission. "I'd be very surprised if it did happen."

Stanley spokesman John DeMaine welcomed the news, although the Reds still need to close a five point gap on Chorley to make sure they are in a position to benefit.

"We wouldn't be too proud to stay in this Division, that's for sure," said DeMaine.

"You've got to feel a bit sorry for Hucknall.

"But if we were in a position where we could win this league and our ground wasn't up to it then we wouldn't be allowed to go up into the Conference.

"The same should therefore apply to the teams trying to get into our league.

"If you have rules, you've got to stick to them.

"So we've just got to try and get as many points as we can between now and the end of the season, try and get above Chorley, then we can take it from there."

Stanley have just five games left to catch second-bottom Chorley but they do have a game in hand and all of the Magpies remaining four games are away from home. But a situation could still arise where both clubs could be saved.

Barrow are in danger of being relegated from the Nationwide Conference at the end of the season but because of a financial crisis at the club they would not be automatically guaranteed a place in the UniBond League.

The Bluebirds are currently in the hands of receivers and will have to re-form as Barrow 1999 AFC in the summer.

And because they will have become a new club, they would have to apply to join the UniBond League if they were relegated and may be forced to drop down the non-League pyramid and start again.

And Bayley has already hinted that the UniBond League would be more concerned about the plight of their member clubs than protecting Barrow's interests if such a situation arose.

Great Harwood continue their brave fight against relegation when Farsley Celtic visit The Showground tonight. And Accrington Stanley Youth team play Burscough Youth at the Crown Ground. Both matches kick off at 7.30pm.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.