BOURNEMOUTH Rugby Club has been listed as "a club at risk" due to fears over the future of community sports facilities at Chapel Gate.

The 69-acre site is set to be sold to Bournemouth University (BU) by the end of next month.

Senior members of the 1,200 member club have tried to get pre-purchase assurances that it can remain at Chapel Gate, will not be financially disadvantaged and that it can continue to use its pitches as it wishes.

But Bournemouth University has refused to give any assurances, fuelling fears over future plans for the facility.

This week the Rugby Football Union declared the club at risk "due to the uncertainty of Bournemouth Rugby Football Club's tenure at Bournemouth Sports Club."

Chief Executive James Croker and chairman Phil Sinkinson OBE said they are frustrated with the situation, which comes as the club enjoys its greatest successes on the pitch.

And they said they "have no wish to be held hostage by being forced to pay incremental increases in order to support sports education at BU."

Mr Croker told the Daily Echo: "We are not getting any assurances at all to give back to our membership. We are the biggest users of Chapel Gate and it seems we are not important enough for BU to negotiate with pre-purchase.

"We have made three simple requests but they have been refused."

Mr Sinkinson added: "We have never been more successful than we are now. The potential for hurt through this process is huge."

They said they are in discussion with other Chapel Gate users who are also worried about what the future holds.

Chapel Gate is used by thousands of people every week enjoying sports including rugby, hockey, cricket, football, netball and archery.

It is currently owned by a charity, the Bournemouth and District Recreational Charity(BDRC), which has chosen BU as its preferred bidder and is believed to be selling for around £2.5 million.

Bournemouth Rugby has been at Chapel Gate since 1989 and is one of three founder members of Bournemouth Sports Club, which owned the grounds and facilities at Chapel Gate until it became a charity in 2014.

Mr Croker and Mr Sinkinson added: "We would urge the Trustees of BDRC to look again at the bids received and to consider a bid which is community based and would continue to allow Bournemouth Rugby and the other sections to play their designated sports within the sporting community of Bournemouth."

A spokesman for the university said negotiations are ongoing.

He added: "BU has been a key user of the Chapel Gate site for several years, alongside the sporting sections and community clubs that use the facility. We have a track record of supporting local sport and developing community sport in the region which BU will continue once the negotiations are finalised to ensure the site remains an active sports facility."