Campaigners fighting to save a Halesowen sport and social club have pleaded for further discussion on its future.

Around 250 people, including Halesowen MP Sylvia Heal and numerous councillors, attended a meeting at the Earls High school last night to discuss the crisis facing Somers sports and social club.

The club is involved in a court battle with trustees trying to gain a possession order for the club’s 250-year-old home - The Grange - with members claiming the club is doomed if the order is granted.

Club member Mick Freer, who chaired last night’s meeting, said he strongly believed a solution could be found to suit both sides without further court action - which has so far cost the club £20,000 in legal fees.

Mick said: “I think it’s time for the trustees to sit down with the club and draw up a realistic agreement.

“Good news would be to hear the possession order has been withdrawn and negotiations are taking place.

“There is no need to destroy this wonderful club.”

The meeting was given a history of the club and The Grange, which Mr Freer described as “Halesowen’s stately home.”

He explained how Walter Somers Ltd effectively created the trustees and the club along with the Walter Somers Employees Fund (WSEF) through deeds of 1929 and 1952 - with trustees having responsibility to look after The Grange.

The current crisis was caused when trustees began asking the club for rent which it could not afford two years ago. The meeting was shown a letter by one of the current trustees - solicitor Brian Rook - which claimed the club had not been acting in the interests of WSEF’s beneficiaries.

It stated legal action had been very much a “last resort.”

The letter stated: “The trust are left with a situation where the club are running a sports and social club from the Grange rent free.

“The trustees do not believe it was ever the intention of Walter Somers, Seth Somers or Walter Somers Limited that the beneficiaries should be put in the situation they are in.”

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Freer said he was pleased by the attendance and hoped negotiations would soon take place between the club and trustees.

He added: “It would be a travesty if we lost the club, I think tonight we have shown there is no need for the Trust to close it.

“We will have to see what they say, I think there is hope - so long as there is good will on both sides.”

The court case is due to resume at Birmingham County Court next Friday January 23.