GREAT Harwood Town chairman Bill Holden is praying for a miracle to prevent his homeless club going out of business.

The Robins could fold in the next 24 hours unless a big investor steps in with around £1 million to buy their Showground stadium and refurbish the dressing rooms, which were destroyed in an arson attack 18 months ago.

If no-one provides a lifeline prior to a meeting between Town's board of directors tomorrow evening, the club will withdraw from the North West Counties League.

Great Harwood has had a football club since 1908.

Blackburn Rovers legends Bryan Douglas and Ronnie Clayton have played for the town's team, as well as current star Matty Derbyshire.

Harwood lease the ground off Ian Jackson, owner of Monroes nightclub, which is located next door to the Showground and was also destroyed by the blaze.

Last season, Harwood played home Division Two games at Accrington Stanley, but with the Reds landing promotion to the Football League, Holden insists there is no chance of continuing the ground-share.

"It's looking desperate," said Holden. "We have a meeting of directors tomorrow.

"After that, if we he have not found somebody to purchase the ground, we will not be in a position to carry on in the North West Counties League.

"The bottom line is that, without a ground to play football on next year, we cannot continue.

"We've been ground-sharing for the last 18 months.

"In that time, we've not played a single game, league or cup, at Great Harwood.

"Every game has been away and that situation cannot carry on.

"We don't have our own income. We are self-sufficient with no debts, but there's no cash-flow coming in.

"Accrington Stanley have been absolutely brilliant to us.

"They were the only club that came in to help and I cannot thank their chairman enough.

"If it was not for them, we would not have been playing for the last 18 months.

"But it's understandable that Accrington have got to look after themselves now they are in the Football League.

"We cannot ground-share any longer with them."

With time ticking away, Town can only be rescued if an investor stumps up close to £1 million to purchase Monroes along with the Showground, then leases the ground back to the club.

But the land has been up for sale for 12 months without a prospective buyer looming on the horizon.

Holden added: "It's completely out of our hands.

"I'm not looking for a begging bowl or any sympathy.

"We just want this situation resolving quick, one way or another, that the ground is sold and leased to us in the short-term or whatever.

"Other clubs in this area - Nelson, Padiham and Darwen - are all owned by their respecitve councils.

"Even Accrington Stanley are helped out, but Great Harwood are owned by a separate landlord.

"It's a unique situation we are in. We need Hyndburn Borough Council to come in and purchase the ground."

Chairman for the last 10 years, Holden is frustrated more than anyone else with the situation.

"I've worked hard to keep the club going, as have a lot of other people," Holden added.

"It's very, very disappointing, I will say that.

"It's totally frustrating me because I know the ground is there but cannot be sorted out.

"At the end of the day, people want a football club in Great Harwood."

Town manager John Hughes has been issued with the responsibility of informing the players, who must all look for new clubs.

North West Counties secretary Geoff Wilkinson said the league are in discussions with Great Harwood regarding their future.

Mr Wilkinson said: "We've tried to help them as much as we can.

"Great Harwood can only be complimented on the way they have conducted themselves.

"It's a situation we sympathise with. Credit must go to Bill Holden for keeping the club going.

"It's been extremely tough for him, the club and for the people who have tried to help, such as Eric Whalley at Accrington."

If Town withdraw their registration, North West Counties Division Two will be reduced from 19 clubs to 18 next season.

Accrington Stanley chairman, Eric Whalley, who still has deep feelings for Harwood following a successful spell there as manager, said: "If the club ends up folding then it will be a blot on non-league football in East Lancashire and the people of Geat Harwood in general.

"A lot of people have worked hard to keep it going in very difficult circumstances and it's a crying shame that no-one in the town will step forward and help them.

"We (Accrington Stanley) tried to help last season by lending them our ground but now we've moved up the football ladder, we can't carry on doing that anymore.

"I just hope someone will come in at the 11th hour and bail them out, but it doesn't look good."