NICK GIRLING has said that Otley Rugby Union Club have four options as they consider whether to remain at Cross Green or move elsewhere.

Girling, who retired from his position of chairman the day after last week's mid-season information meeting in the clubhouse after citing burnout, said that the club have been looking into the possibility of moving from their existing base for three years.

He said: "Option one is to stay where we are and re-develop Cross Green, which is not only a huge job but very expensive and time consuming, and the club (juniors and seniors) would still be on separate sites.

"Option two is to sell Cross Green and move to another site, courtesy of the east of Otley relief road, where the junior and senior sections of the club could be unified (two first-team pitches, two junior pitches and a clubhouse).

"This presents many challenges, not least finding a suitably big enough site in Otley, getting planning permission for that site and finding a developer for Cross Green.

"Option three is selling Cross Green and finding a smaller site for the first-team pitch, clubhouse, car park etc and keep the junior and training pitches at Pool Road.

"This presents the same challenges as option two and the club would still be on separate sites.

"Option four is to sell Cross Green and collaborate with another rugby club."

Girling, who says he is a driven 53-year-old with modern business practices, is business-minded, savvy, open-minded, visionary and people-oriented, added: "Otley RUFC has 153 years of history, and when I came back to play for the club in 1995 it had six teams and Old Otliensians had four.

"Unfortunately, people like me are not stepping into positions of authority at rugby clubs because the ask is too much."

As for the appeal for volunteers last week, without which the club are in jeopardy, Girling said: "There haven't been any to my e-mail address unfortunately, but I have had messages of support from people I don’t know at Morley, Wharfedale and Wakefield lamenting similar stories."