The battle to save a long-running Halesowen sports and social club is set to continue after court proceedings were postponed.

Attempts by the trustees of The Grange to gain a possession order for the site and boot out Somers Sports and Social Club have been put back, after a judge sitting at Stourbridge County Court this morning gave them more time to gather information.

The trustees - WSEF (Walter Somers Employees Fund Ltd) which is based at the offices of Folkes Holdings in Stourbridge - and solicitor Brian Rook, of Cheltenham - now have 28 days to change the basis of their case.

The next hearing will take place at the Birmingham Chancery Division of the High Court in around seven weeks time.

Members believe the sports and social club is doomed if the trustees are successful in gaining the order, claiming the ten-acre site could be sold for housing.

Speaking after today’s brief hearing, club chairman Paul Hill said they now had more time to put together a defence.

He said: “We are pleased no decision has been made and the case is going higher.

“At the moment it is damaging the club - we are not able to plan for events in the future - we are in limbo.”