A FOOTBALL club’s plan to reopen a disused pub as a clubhouse and community hub by Christmas has been put back until the New Year.

Spennymoor Town FC wants to take over the Salvin Arms pub, on King Street, which went into liquidation earlier this year, and rename it Moors Bar.

Officials hoped to have signed a deal by now to rent the pub for around six months, to later secure a longer term lease and investment in the building.

Chairman Brad Groves said: “When the owners started the work required to bring the premises up to standard they encountered additional work that needed to be addressed which had not been originally accounted for.

“This work is ongoing.

“This means that the agreement has not yet been signed by the club but we anticipate that the heads of terms for the lease will be agreed in the next seven to ten days and the lease will be signed by the end of the month.

“We will then look to spend four weeks to bring the décor up to standard before opening up to the public.”

Since the old clubhouse burned down on Christmas Day 2003 the club has explored numerous avenues to replace it while running a small bar in main stand.

The Salvin Arms scheme was announced in November along with plans to improve the Brewery Field ground and for changing facilities and a 25 year lease of the training complex at Tudhoe Grange.