OFFICIALS at one of the regions most famous amateur football clubs face an anxious wait while experts find out what caused a ten-metre wide crater to open up in their pitch.

The Coal Authority has told Tow Law Town FC, in County Durham, that site investigation work might not start until next week because specialist contractors might not be available for up to ten days.

If the subsidence is caused by former mine workings, the authority will meet the restoration bill.

If not, the club's future could be at risk because the cost of repairs to the crater, which is up to a metre deep, could be thousands of pounds.

Until the work is completed, the club, where former England star Chris Waddle was discovered before joining Newcastle and former Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson is vice-president, will lose revenue from bar and food takings.

Chairman Harry Hodgson said: "We lose both ways. The good thing is we haven't a home game until the end of October, so we have time to make arrangements. The problem is, we just don't know what we are dealing with."

The Albany Northern League has said it would allow the team to play home matches at another side's ground and urged people in Tow Law to get behind the club.

League chairman Mike Amos said: "Tow Law has been members of the Northern League since 1920 and we will bend over backwards to do anything we can to help.

"This is something completely beyond their control and everybody in the league will sympathise with their predicament."