Football fans could be left in the dark because of a delay in the installation of floodlights.

Alresford Town FC has invited Laurence Jones, chief executive of the Hampshire Football Association, to switch on the lights at Arlebury Park before the first home match of the season, against United Services, on Wednesday, September 1st.

But there's a question mark over both the ceremony and match because electronics giant, Philips, says it can't supply the lights in time.

The metal structures to hold them in place arrived earlier this week as scheduled but the club might have to wait until the end of next month for the lighting units.

A spokesman for Philips told the Chronicle the delay was due to a shortage of components - but the club's first-team manager, Keith Curtis, is fuming.

"Philips boast that they supplied 85% of the lights for the Olympic Games, but they can't supply 12 lights for us," he said.

Now he is looking for another company to provide the lights in time for the ceremony.

Mr Curtis said it would not cause major disruption to the club's fixtures if an alternative supplier could not be found since the match was the only evening kick-off scheduled at Arlebury Park for several weeks.

The floodlights became a necessity after Alresford Town last season secured promotion from the Hampshire League to Div II of the Wessex League.

The Football Foundation agreed to pay £28,000 towards the installation.

Of the remaining £15,000, the football club contributed £6,000, with the rest coming from the town council.