Banbury Rugby Club members, attending tomorrow's game against Luctonians, will be locked out of their own clubhouse bar, following the collapse of the holding company, which ran their Bodicote Park ground.

Bodicote Park Ltd (BPL) have been declared insolvent this week, which means that most of the facilities at the club's impressive ground will be closed.

Only the dressing rooms, shower area and grandstand will be in use as Banbury seek to move away from the relegation zone in Midlands Division 1.

A statement from the club to members states: "We have ascertained that BPL's debts are up to £140,000 which includes £120,000 in respect of business rates to Cherwell District Council.

"Two directors of BPL, who are members of BRUFC, consider that the company will be trading insolvently from the beginning of 2002

"The company is a service company and has no significant assets. Even tables and chairs in the facility are owned by the Charitable Trust."

"It remains impossible to make proper arrangements for a replacement structure that guarantees our continued use.

"The Trustees of the Charity will not, and cannot, give us any assurance as to the future at all. They say they are prevented by the Charity Commission (CC) from making any decision of their own, despite making the CC aware of the prevailing circumstances.

"The CC say to us that it is the responsibility of the Trustees to deal with these issues and we must speak to them.

"You will see that this is an impossible cycle of decision making to break into. BRUFC would like to be able to provide for alternative arrangements but we are unable to make progress.

"Looking at the fixture list just for January shows the disruption that is going to be caused if we cannot find a way forward.

"Even if we have to accept a short-term lease to the end of the season, there is virtue from the rugby point of view in achieving an accommodation.

We are, though, concerned to avoid a "quick fix" that satisfies the short term, but does not deal with the long term."

Until the receiver is appointed by the Charity Commission, the club can take no further action.

Despite the dire situation, Banbury RFC president Roy Evans, who pointed out that the club itself was solvent, was optimistic about the future.

"We are dependent on the Trustees, the Charity Commission and Cherwell District Council. But I'm confident that Banbury will be playing at Bodicote for long into the future," he said.

Banbury plan a pitch inspection at noon today to see if the match against Luctonians could go ahead. Tomorrow's line-ups Banbury Bulls (v Luctonians, home, 2.30) from: Noyce, Ferguson, Viggers, Cartmell, P Papenfus, Edwards, Riddell, B Harrison, Walker, Hobley, Brown, Wilkins, McNally, Chatterton, Cumings, Brooks (capt), Cockerton, Hughes, Lawrence, Hurley.

Oxford Harlequins (v Bicester, home, friendly, meet Horspath Rd, 1pm) from: Silversides, Lawfull, Simon Chadbone, Price, Dow, Moloney, Stevenson, Anderson, J Cope, Nye, A Cope, Penney, G E Jones, Hill, Swadling, Steve Chadbone, Dobson, Walker.

Oxford Harlequins 2nd (v Littlemore, home, meet Horspath Rd, 1).

Oxford Harlequins 3rd ( v Abingdon, home, meet Horspath Rd, 1).

Oxford Harlequins 4th (v Littlemore 2nd, away, meet Horspath Rd, 1.15).