A bowling club whose future was in doubt has been thrown a lifeline by a junior football club which has agreed to take over the running of the organisation.

Members of Salts Bowling Club last summer informed Salts Sports Association they could no longer afford to keep going after an increase in its annual rent.

But Shipley Juniors has now announced its management committee will take over the running of the bowls club from April.

Shipley Juniors general manager Paul Whitehead said: “We are based at the site and were aware of the likelihood of the bowls folding. It seemed a shame as the greens have been in use since the 1930s and are steeped in history which should never be lost.

“Our management committee sat down and discussed the issue and, following talks with the Salts Sports Association committee and existing bowls committee, the club has now undertaken to take over the running of the club starting from April this year.”

Salts Bowling Club will retain its name but will be managed by the Shipley Juniors committee. Mr Whitehead said: “Despite not knowing that much about bowls we feel that with a current membership of more than 500 football players we must be able to attract members to take part in the bowls team alongside existing members.

“We are also planning to launch junior bowls in the summer, which is something the club once had a reputation for. We also feel that social bowls is very popular and is something we will look to expand.”

Mr Whitehead said the club was also committed to continue competing in the Winter Bowls Leagues. He said the committee had plans for the club, including making a bid to Bradford Council to help improve its facilities, and should be self-sufficient in one year.

He said membership will cost £15 per year.

Salts Sports Association chairman Neville Cawley said: “As chairman of Salts Sports Association and on behalf of the committee, we would like to welcome on board Shipley Juniors with all their junior people that are going to take up crown green bowling.

“We are more enthusiastic about the junior section and getting juniors playing crown green bowls as we have not actually had that at Salts Sports recently.

“Some 20 years ago there used to be a thriving junior section who won a lot of trophies – hopefully we would like to get the bowling club back to that status.”

A meeting for members, or anyone interested in becoming a member, is on Thursday, February 26, at Salts Sports Association clubhouse, Victoria Road, Saltaire at 7.30pm.