Troubled Gillford Park will be allowed to continue playing in the league -- but it isn't clear for how long.

The Cumbrians have had more than their fair share of problems this season in staging games on their own ground in Carlisle, and a fortnight ago were called into the Northern League Management committee meeting to discuss the very delicate situation. Until that point, they hadn't played a home game all season.

After speaking to Health and Safety bodies in Cumbria, the league was told that the ground is safe enough for spectators to watch football, so the issue was clearly between the club and their landlords.

League officials have helped the club as much as they could, and have spoken to all parties at length in the last fortnight.

Because their own ground is locked -- Gillford couldn't even access it to obtain equipment including the dugouts -- then the league agreed to them playing at the Cumbrian Sports Academy 35 miles away. They have since played Morpeth and Newton Aycliffe there, and are scheduled to play Thornaby at the same venue on Saturday.

The club met the LMC again on Thursday, and with the situation becoming more and more complicated, it appears that further talks are planned between all parties.

League chairman Mike Amos said: " A satisfactory outcome to the Gillford Park saga is still nowhere in sight. We're inspecting at the Copeland Stadium in Whitehaven tomorrow to see if it's suitable for Gillford Park to continue playing there. "

Tomorrow's game will still go ahead, but there now appear to be question marks over the suitability of the alternative ground. It is unclear whether Gillford have a formal groundshare agreement lined up with either the Cumbrian SA, or Gretna, where the floodlights will need a safety certificate.