TROUBLED football club Spennymoor United will today play its last game under its chairman of four years, Benny Mottram.

After playing Frickley Athletic in the quarter final of the Presidents' Cup today, the club will face a battle for survival without the financial backing of Mr Mottram.

Supporters and residents of the town will be called to a public meeting at The Brewery Field, at 7pm on Tuesday, in a desperate attempt to find a way to safeguard the 101-year-old club's future.

Last night, Mr Mottram confirmed that the long-running row with Spennymoor Town Council was the main reason he decided the quit the club this weekend.

He claims a lease on the County Durham club's Brewery Field ground is illegal because it was signed by a former member and clerk, but the council says the contract was held in escrow, which makes it legal.

Mr Mottram said: "This situation has cost me £22,000 in legal fees, so it must have cost the tax-payer even more. I have had enough of it all.

"I refuse to pay the rent because I don't regard the lease as legal. I had to sign it because the FA would have stopped us playing football without one.

"The council says it has helped the club over the years, but the club had to go into debt to pay back loans and interest.

"I hope when I have gone that someone will come in and help the club out, someone the council will work with much better when I'm not around any more."

Temporary town clerk Pauline Wilson said: "Mr Mottram and ourselves had legal advice, so he cannot have been forced to sign the lease.

"We don't want to see the club in difficulty and will sit down with anyone who wants to talk about its future."