A historic cricket club in Liverpool is facing closure unless they can get in contact with their island-based landlord and renew their lease.

Aigburth Cricket and Bowling Club, which has more than 400 members and was established in 1888, is the tenant of PR Investments, which also employs Manx accounting firm Baker Tilly.

Member Harry Barlow got in contact with the Isle of Man Examiner in the hope it may help the club get in contact with their landlord, as the owner of PR Investments is understood to live in the island.

The clock is ticking because the club’s lease comes to an end in November.

Mr Barlow said that they’d ’tried everything’ to get in touch with the landlord over the past 12 months, and that reaching out to the Manx press was a last resort.

He also explained how the club had made trips to the island over the years, having last visited in June 2019.

He fondly remembered the time members had spent in local venues like Quids Inn in Douglas.

The Liverpool Echo has reported how local councillor Tom Crone has started a petition asking Liverpool Council to protect the club, potentially through a compulsory purchase of the site or listing it as an asset of community value (which would give it the same status as places like Anfield).

So far it has reached over 7,500 signatures.

Mr Crone said: ’It would be a devastating loss to the local community if this cherished local club is lost because an absentee landlord prefers to try to increase its value for personal gain’.

However, the club does not believe that the site, previously valued at £60,000 when it attempted to buy it itself, would ever be earmarked for future development as it would be difficult for anyone to obtain planning permission for the greenfield land.

The club has even reached out to Sport England for legal help, in the hope protected status could be granted.