MINEHEAD Football Club could be kicked out of the Western League for failing to meet some of the most basic requirements of membership. League officials have warned the club their future hangs in the balance as they are unable to offer working floodlights or social facilities on match days. Problems have been exacerbated by a backlog of games, as the club has been unable to use its home ground since the pitch was churned up during September's tug of war championships. However, the club announced this week that Western League referees have finally given the pitch a tentative all clear for matches to resume. The first team are due to play their first home fixture in three months next Saturday, December 15, while the reserve squad will play its first home game of the entire season tomorrow (Saturday). Chairman of the Somerset referees, Keith Buller, who inspected the pitch, said the ground was playable, although still very soft underfoot in places. He said he was concerned the freshly grown grass could easily rip out once play resumed and called for the pitch to be rolled regularly to minimise the risk of players being hurt. Club members are themselves trying to limit damage to the pitch by continuing to hire other locations for weekly training sessions. Senior officials were due to meet representatives from the Western League this week to address many of the league's concerns. First team treasurer Adrian Giblett said the league was worried about the lack of facilities and the upheaval caused by repairs to the pitch taking a month longer than anticipated. "The club currently does not fulfil the requirements of the league because we do not have working floodlights and are unable to supply a social facility on match days," he said. "It is feared that unless the committee can demonstrate in the next few months that these criteria can be met, it is very likely Minehead Football Club will be asked to leave the Western League. "While the first team fixtures have all now been rescheduled, currently the reserves have six home fixtures which cannot be arranged on Saturdays as the pitch is in use. "This again has angered the Taunton and District League, as Minehead Football Club cannot comply to the league's requirements of playing matches on Saturdays. "The whole tug of war episode has seriously threatened the status of Minehead Football Club." He said both teams were looking forward to returning to the Irnham Road ground and said he hoped supporters would turn out in force to cheer on the teams. "The committee would like to commend the players and management for their continued commitment and would urge people to support our teams of totally local players," Mr Giblett said. The reserves' match tomorrow will be against Staplegrove Reserves, kick off at 2pm, while the first team will play Roman Glass SG on December 15, again with a 2pm kick off.