THE clock is ticking on Mr Smith's as developers have shown an interest in the famous town centre night club.

The club has suffered a drop in numbers of clubbers since founder John Smith died last year and the Warrington Guardian understands this weekend might be the last.

But Eric Moyns, director of the company that owns it, said: "It's not this weekend, but it won't be long because we hope we have some land developers coming.

"But at the moment I can't give you any more information."

An outline planning application for the site was submitted earlier this year.

Mr Smith's is owned by Matty Coan and Co Ltd, Liverpool, and it had a hard time last year. An operating profit of £390,545 for the financial year up to 2005 turned into a loss of £53,662 by 2006.

The firm has cut costs and slashed its wage bill by dropping the number of employees from 84 to 58.

But the directors were disappointed with this year's results, which they blamed on changes in licensing laws and consumer habits, which combined to produce a significant decline in trade'.

The directors' annual report said they were reviewing the options available' over the club - the land and buildings are estimated to be worth £2.2m.

Founder John Smith died in April 2005, aged 66, after a short battle with cancer. The club was created from a derelict cinema in 1985 and the night spot became a household name that put Warrington on the pop culture map, most famously through the Hit Man And Her television show.

The club has given huge amounts of money to charity, and even last year, gave £1,332 despite the difficult times.

An outstanding planning application remains in place to develop the site into a riverside development, complete with restaurants, bars and offices.

The company directors are Solomon Black, a 90-year-old from Crosby, Eric Moyns, aged 84, from Blackpool, and Clara Moyns, aged 71, also from Blackpool.