the local community club searching for a new building to house their operations.

April 30 has been set as the date for Village to vacate their current premises on North Shore Road -- opposite Empire Grocery -- as the new owners of the red-brick building seek to redevelop the property.

Club secretary Wendell Lindsay confirmed this week that the end of the lease agreement between the two parties was rapidly approaching, leaving Village out in the cold.

"We have no alternative as we speak,'' said Lindsay. "The plan we have is towards establishing a building at Bernard Park. That has not happened as yet, but that is where the committee and membership as a whole want to go.

"I don't see the point of going into another temporary home for us to just have to move again.'' Nevertheless, there would seem few other options other than to lease another area, especially with the loss of revenue from the operation of a bar facility at the North Shore site.

Moreover, there has been little response from members and the surrounding community to several forums that detailed plans for erecting a $500,000 purpose-built facility at Bernard Park, which acts as their home venue for soccer and other social events.

"It hasn't been what we would have liked it to be. It's been very slow, certainly not at the pace we anticipated six months ago when we drew up a plan of action,'' continued Lindsay, who hinted at the possibility of seeking loans or deriving funds for the project through corporate sponsorship or from Government.

"Borrowing money is an option, but it makes more sense to secure backing from our members first. We've got to find another new revenue source, maybe using the field, having functions.

"It's not going to be easy, but other organisations are able to get by without a bar. However in the long run we definitely want to secure some premises at Bernard Park.

"We have to be more active in obtaining sponsorship ... we've reached an age where sponsorship is needed to keep things going.'' Already on the agenda are cash raising drives aimed at supporting a building fund.

Ironically, Village previously held the option of buying the building they currently rent, but the offer was declined by the then management team, a decision Lindsay said that he and some others regret.

"It was a different executive group at that time, but my personal opinion is that they should have (bought).'' It was five years ago that Government handed over use of the southern part of Bernard Park following years of searching for a venue to support a sprawling junior soccer programme together with the senior team, as well as netball, softball and cricket teams.

Village are set to close down bar operations at the end of March when their liquor licence expires, with April set aside for selling off unneeded equipment.