Chelmsford City chairman Peter Stroud has admitted that unless the club finds a new ground back within the borough 'sooner than later' they will be forced out of top non-league professional football for good.

"It's quite simple that unless we get the new ground at Beaulieu Park then there is no way that Chelmsford City can maintain its present status - we will be out for good and left with a team forced to play local football on a council park pitch," he said.

"The longer we are away from a home in the borough the less likely we are to survive as a creditable non-league professional club," he continued.

"It is economic reality - without a new ground of our own to bring in the income and create the revenue that is needed to survive and develop for the future we are dead."

The club, currently ground sharing at Billericay for the second season, are again being successful on the field and pushing for promotion back to the Dr Martens Premier Division with a regular band of 500-plus supporters making the trip for 'home' games.

"The present situation is frustrating for everyone connected with the club - players, supporters, sponsors and the directors," Mr Stroud said.

"We have the plans ready for the new ground, the money is in place to do the job - all we want is the backing of the borough council to get on to build something that will benefit not only the club but the whole town, the community and add credibility to the council.

"We need the political backing to get back into the borough but at the moment the will is not there from the controlling politicians, which are the Lib Dems, to do that," he said.

"We have asked to talk to them to discuss our dilemma and see if there is a way immediately forward but they repeatedly turn us down, although representatives of the other two main parties are prepared to listen and try and help us," he said.

"I am prepared to talk to anybody, anywhere at any time if it is for the benefit of the long term future of the club and also the borough. On behalf of the club I'm prepared to talk about any possible site, even the old Stadium."

The chairman also revealed that City were in discussions with another sports club in the mid Essex area with a view to them possibly sharing certain features of the proposed new stadium at Beaulieu.

"Again we are trying to further enhance the sporting facilities of the county town which has to be regarded as a positive move for everyone''.

Leading Lib Dem Councillor Graham Pooley said: "The council has bent over backwards to help get top class football back into the borough.

"We happen to believe that it should be centrally sited, with cricket if possible. We await a public inquiry result on this very issue in respect of the existing city stadium.

"We have, as yet, seen no application from the football club for their alternative site at Boreham."

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