A GOLF professional has secured a new job after leaving a council owned club following a dispute over a £9,000 debt.

Alan Hartley, who ran the clubhouse, driving range and golf academy at Roseberry Grange Golf Course, near Chester-le-Street, was threatened with the bailiffs after amassing the debt to Chester-le-Street District Council.

He was forced to withdraw from his contract last month when the council issued him with an ultimatum to pay the money back or relinquish his lease.

His resignation led to ten people losing their jobs, although they were later reinstated by the council.

Mr Hartley, 44, of Garden Farm Chester-le-Street, worked at Roseberry Grange for 15 years, and claimed that he invested about £70,000 of his own money in the business.

He said that the council forced him out, even though he increased the driving range's takings from £16,000 to £45,000 in a year and boosted the bar profits from £35,000 to £130,000.

But the council said that it was merely safeguarding the golf club's interests and ensuring that public money was recovered.

Now, having settled his debt, Mr Hartley is preparing to take up a new post as golf professional at Burgham Park, Northumberland, where he hopes to start another children's academy similar to the highly-successful one he established at Roseberry Grange.

He said: "I'll be head of the Mark James Golf Academy, which is quite prestigious as Mark James is vice-captain of the Ryder Cup."

North Durham MP Kevan Jones has written to Chester-le-Street council asking for an explanation of its treatment of Mr Hartley.

Meanwhile, the Professional Golfers' Association is conducting its own investigation.