WELLINGTON Cricket Club has received the support of local councillors in its bid for funding to run a series of winter coaching sessions for young players.

But due to the ongoing situation with the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent restrictions, the club has been unable to tell members of Wellington Town Council’s finance committee how much money is actually required.

The club had initially asked for a £600 grant – which would fund six sessions at £100 a time held at the Court Fields Community School sports hall.

But Simon Spalding, from the club, said the Covid-19 restrictions might prove problematic in laying on the sessions.

He told councillors at their latest meeting, held via Zoom video conferencing technology, that the sessions would normally start in January, but that would not be able to happen now and plans to start in the February half-term which would also be improbable.

“We are now looking at possibly laying on two or three sessions towards the end of March and if so we’d come to the council and ask for £300.

“There is every chance we won’t be able to do anything inside and, obviously, if we don’t hold any sessions we wouldn’t want any money.”

The Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mark Lithgow, said the council had been very happy to support these coaching sessions in the past.

“I went down to one of these sessions last year and they were attended by a group of very enthusiastic young people who were practising their cricket and developing and improving their skills,” he said.

Cllr Andrew Govier added: “The council has a proud record of supporting youth sport in the town. The only question with this is whether the club will be able to go-ahead because of Covid-19.”

Councillors agreed to support the club and retrospectively award grant funding depending on how many coaching sessions are held in the coming months.

The finance committee’s decision to support the grant application was later ratified by the full council.