ABOUT 200 people attended a private meeting to discuss the future of a New Forest football club after members complained they were being kept in the dark.

Rumours that bosses at Brockenhurst FC wanted to sell their ground for housing had reached a fever pitch in the village.

Twenty members got together to demand the special general meeting under club rules to find out the facts.

Club chiefs were grilled at the meeting, where they confirmed that they are looking at five possible sites where they could relocate the club from its current home at Grigg Lane in Brockenhurst centre.

One is believed to be a field behind St Nicholas Church on Mill Lane.

Club member Alex Innes, of Auckland Avenue, said: "I think people in Brockenhurst should know they are looking at several sites. The public has a right to know.

"I think the meeting brought home to the committee how seriously people are taking this."

The Sydenhams Wessex League club has played at Grigg Lane for more than 50 years but amenities, including its stand and clubhouse, have become run down.

Many locals were furious that club bosses were considering selling the prime site to generate enough cash to build more modern facilities elsewhere.

Cyril Otter, 83, club life member and vice-president, asked Brockenhurst FC chiefs how the club could move from Grigg Lane, because the trust deeds state that it should not be sold for 100 years and there is still about 80 years left to run.

He said: "They told us that they haven't got the money to put things right but they did confirm that the trust deeds have not been altered.

"They also said that not all of the club's four trustees are in agreement that they should move, which is crucial to any decision being finalised."

He added: "I think a lot was learned from the meeting and the large attendance reflected the strength of feeling."

Club chairman Brian Small,said: "The situation is still the same, no deals or agreements have been made. There were a lot of people at the meeting I have never seen before and who are not at all interested in football or the social club."