Ipswich: Amateur footballers who use the Ransomes’ Sports Ground in Sidegate Avenue have been given an assurance that their sport will not be threatened by changes at the club.

The borough council, which owns the ground, has served notice to quit on the Ransomes Sports and Social Club which has run the ground since 1994.

In announcing the move, the borough said in a statement: “The council believes that not all sports have been able to flourish under the current management.”

The statement said the borough would take over the management of the sports ground, but this prompted concerns among amateur footballers that they could be frozen out.

Now, however, the borough has written to assure them they will be able to fulfil all next season’s commitments.

Bryony Rudkin, councillor responsible for sport, said: “We want to save Ransomes for a variety of sports. That is why we have served a legal notice on the Ransomes Sports and Social Club.

“I want to stress that we are going to keep this council-owned facility open and want to work with existing users. We are not, I repeat not, going to close it.”

n Should the borough take over Ransomes? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starletters@archant.co.uk