A FOOTBALL facility in Brighton Hill is set to close unless another operator comes in as the company behind it agrees to a restructure.

Powerleague, in Brighton Way, was earmarked at the end of September to be one of the 13 sites for closure as Powerleague Fives Ltd filed a proposal to change the company structure.

Creditors and shareholders all agreed today to vote through the Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) that was devised for them.

This new plan will see the loss of 109 jobs as 13 of the sites across the country will be closed in the new year. Any employees that will be affected by these changes have been told.

Powerleague anticipates the pitches that were labelled for closure will be open until January 2019 at least.

The chief executive officer of Powerleague, Christian Rose, said that this was ‘the last chance to rescue the company’ with the company saying that the CVA was a ‘last resort.’

Mr Rose said: “Today’s positive news means we are one step closer to restructuring Powerleague with the necessary investment. It is clearly a very difficult time for those whose jobs are affected and we will continue to offer them our support.

“These significant changes are essential to a sustainable future for Powerleague. The CVA is our last chance to rescue the company, and I am absolutely committed to our long-term turnaround plan.”

This news comes after the Gazette reported that concerned residents of Brighton Hill set up a petition to Powerleague to keep the facility open.

The e-petition has so far managed to collect over 1,200 signatures and climbing.

Jody Barham, who set up the petition, said that the loss would be ‘devastating’ to the local community. She wrote on the petition: “This will be a devastating loss to Basingstoke losing these facilities.

“A business like this should be supported and kept to keep young people having fun whilst learning and keeping fit in a safe environment there is nothing else like this in Basingstoke.

“It will be devastating for a lot of families to lose this facility.”

As previously covered in the Gazette, deputy leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Councillor Terri Reid mentioned at the time that ‘discussions’ were going on between Powerleague, neighbouring Brighton Hill School, and Hampshire County Council about the future of the facility.

In addition to Basingstoke, the facilities that will be closing are: Finchley, Sheffield, Kilmarnock, Shrewsbury, Yardley, Leeds Central, Leeds East, Leeds North, Halesowen, Hamilton, Manchester South, and Teeside.

To view the petition, go to: change.org/p/powerleague-prevent-the-closure-of-powerleague-basingstoke.