CRUNCH talks to decide the future of Runcorn's 'premier sports ground' on Monday night earned the Pavilions a stay of execution.

Pavilions Arena Limited, which owns the ground, met with Halton councillors and the Runcorn & District FA to find an alternative to the financially struggling company winding down its sports facilities on May 31.

"It's not a dead duck," said Norman Atherton, chairman of Runcorn & District FA, after a public meeting.

"There's a glimmer of hope," his FA colleague Ray Pullen added after it was announced that councillors have promised to look into solutions to save grass roots football in Runcorn.

The Pavilions' financial problems were outlined to concerned members of local amateur sports clubs who rely on the ground's five pitches, two bowling greens and other communal facilities to compete in their respective leagues.

Company secretary Roy Roberts told the meeting that plans to redevelop the facility into a self-financing, state-of-the-art set of pitches had failed because to qualify for sport development funding they had to match the amount they were applying for.

Mr Roberts said Pavilions Arena had intended to spend a total of £750,000 including £401,000 on all-weather pitches and £233,000 on new changing facilities, but could not get close to raising half the figure needed.

John Ackerley, a county development manager for Cheshire FA, said: "There is not the money to put every club in the county right. There is just not enough funding to go around."

Pavilions Arena Limited will allow the 15 football clubs using their pitches to finish their seasons on May 14 before the secure fencing is dismantled and the power supply turned off.

The bar will continue to operate as a social club indefinitely however and table tennis and weightlifting rooms may be given a little longer.

The Runcorn & District FA says it has asked Halton Council - from which seven councillors attended the public meeting on Monday night - to commit to whatever help it can offer in time for clubs to make plans to play elsewhere next season.

A petition to help keep good quality sports pitches open in Runcorn was also started at the meeting.