BAY Athletic today urged council chiefs: “Let us stay in Kirklees.”

Huddersfield’s hugely successful West Riding County Amateur League club are moving to a new base at North Field Hall at Brackenhall which will give them the chance to meet Northern Counties East League ground criteria.

But because of delays in installing pitch drainage, they will not be in situ until next season.

County Amateur title winners four years running between 2008-11 and currently second in the table under new joint managers Marcus Mitchell and Colin Alcide, Bay have had to leave Canalside because of Town’s multi-million redevelopment of the Leeds Road complex which has become their impressive new training base.

The former Huddersfield District League club have been using facilities at North Huddersfield Trust School (formerly Fartown High) but they do not meet County Amateur guidelines, which include having a fenced-off pitch.

Now the club want to play at Overthorpe Park, Dewsbury for the remainder of the season.

But are still waiting for Kirklees Council to rubber-stamp the arrangement.

If no progress is made, secretary Kevin Burns says a ground-share with Ossett Town, of the Evo-Stik (Northern Premier) League could be the only option.

“We’d hoped to be installed at Brackenhall by now, but there have been unavoidable delays,” said Burns (right).

“The league have been very patient with us, and we’re grateful for that, but we have to find a more suitable pitch.

“We’ve made many enquiries, and Ossett are willing to accommodate us, but it would be an expensive option, and we don’t really want to leave the Kirklees area, even for a short spell.

“There aren’t many other places because most clubs whose grounds meet the guidelines run both first and reserve teams, but we believe the pitch at Overthorpe (also used by District League Thornhill United) is a workable possibility.

“It’s a case of getting through to the end of this season, because the set-up at North Field Hall is going to be excellent.”

Kirklees Council were unavailable for comment.