WITNEY United face the threat of relegation from the FTL Futbol Hellenic League Premier Division.

The high fliers are one of three teams who have failed to inform the league of the status of their outstanding ground work needed to bring it up to the required standard.

With the deadline for achieving this on Tuesday, Witney have been handed a reprieve by Hellenic League general manager Brian King, who says he will inspect the ground, but they must move quickly to prove that the remedial work is carried out to the required standard.

The club have been told that their ground does not reach the Football Association’s required ‘F-grade’ standard due to a lack of hard standing around the stadium.

Wantage Town, Bicester Town, Hook Norton, Carterton, Shrivenham and Shortwood United have also fallen foul of the legislation, though they have booked inspections to show that their grounds have had the appropriate work carried out by the deadline.

However, Harrow Hill, Milton United and Witney United have not given the league assurances that they will meet this timescale.

Harrow Hill and Milton, who occupy the bottom two positions in the table, have said that they will not be carrying out the work, seemingly accepting their fate, although Harrow Hill, who are 19 points adrift at the bottom, face relegation anyway.

That leaves Witney, who should escape sanctions if they can show that the work needing to be carried out, is done to the required standard.

King said the main concern centered around the safety aspect of the shingle: “At the shed end, I was able to dig out a pebble.

“A person could throw that at a player. It’s that aspect that Witney have to address.”

“If they do the work to the extent that it presents a bound surface, I will photograph it, and, with my comments, will send it to the ground grading people on April 9.

“I’m told that the shingle is being removed. Apparently there is a hard base underneath the shingle, but I will have to see what it looks like.

“I have offered Witney a time and a date for an inspection and I am waiting to hear back from them.

“If they do not comply, they will be considered not to have the approriate grade and would fill one of the relegation places.”

The stadium was built to Southern League standards and opened in 1992.

However, the owners of the ground are preparing to redevelop.

Witney chairman Steve Lake said: “The club are fully aware of their obligations as regards the FA Grade F ground grading critia and is putting in place interim works that will be inspected by the deadline.

“Given the financial climate, the club is attempting to avoid any large, costly programmes of work on a ground that is proposed to be developed by its owners, as this would be a criminal waste of money.”