STOURBRIDGE Sunday soccer side Wollaston Lions fear they will be forced to fold if proposals to increase pitch fees is given the go-ahead for next season.

Dudley parks department has been told to save £40,000 over the next financial year and doubling the price of pitch hire is one suggestion being seriously considered by council chiefs.

But it would prove a price too high for the likes of Wollaston Lions whose club secretary Stephanie Jackson said: "We already pay £507 per season for the pitch and just manage to break even.

"Doubling the fees would mean my team, and I presume other teams that use Dudley Council pitches, would not be able to afford to continue running any longer."

The Lions, who are based at South Road and play in the Kidderminster Sunday League, already charge players £5 to play in matches and £3.50 to train.

Stephanie Jackson added: "If we increased those fees, it just wouldn't happen and the lads would walk away when all they want to do is play football."

She has written to Stourbridge MP Margot James seeking her support on the issue.

Councillor Pete Lowe, Dudley's deputy council leader, said he has "sympathy" for clubs affected and he added: "I totally understand the impact cuts are having within the local community.

"As a council, we have received a 50 per cent cut in our funding from the government and it's a nightmare.

"As a result, we have been forced to make some hard decisions and these are out for consultation at the moment before next year's budget is made up in March.

"I'm a football fanatic and I have total sympathy with clubs, especially at a time when we should be encouraging grass roots football, but our hands have been tied.

"All we can do is to keep pressing this government for a fairer deal."