PORTLAND United chairman Tony Greaves is appealing for local businesses to come forward and support the club’s bid to return to the Sydenhams Wessex League.

The Blues are desperate to move up a level but need to raise £42,000 to repair the floodlights at Grove Corner to make the step.

Portland completed a league and cup double in Dorset’s top-flight this season but at the moment it is unlikely they will progress further unless a huge cash injection is made into the club.

Greaves said: “There is no doubt that we want to go into the Wessex League but we still cannot afford it due to the floodlights still, which will cost £42,000 to replace.

“We have had the ground inspected by the Wessex League and they have approved us in every area apart from the floodlights and in-order for us to go up we have to give them a commitment soon that they will be ready in time for September.

“Unfortunately it would not be viable to repair the existing ones because they cannot really be fixed. Each new floodlight costs around £2,500 each and the committee is going to buy one for the boys, and Phil Laming has promised to buy another.

“We can go for funding from the FA but we must be in a position to match whatever they put forward. And with the running cost of the team likely to go up by around £12,000 a year if we go up, we need to get as close to that £42,000 mark as possible.

“We are desperate to give the current crop of players at the club the chance to test themselves at a higher level and we have tried everything we can to get the funds in place but the money that was due to come in has not been forthcoming.

“That is why we are appealing to anyone out there who could step in and help us. We have been here since 1932 and at the moment we have a nice young side that has won back-to-back Dorset Premier League titles and deserve the opportunity to progress.

“I know it is difficult in the current climate but with the launch of the Olympic Legacy for 2012, we are hopeful that people or local businesses might come forward.

When asked what deadline the Wessex League has given the club, Greaves added: “We need to give them a commitment that the work will be carried out in time for next season by the end of this month.

“They are holding it back for us really and that is why we need people to come forward soon.

“If they don’t then all we can do is stay where we are and try and push on again next year because we will not allow the club to go and get itself into debt.”

First-team boss Stuart Heath is adamant that his current squad could compete in the Wessex League and is crossing his fingers that they will be given that opportunity.

He said: “I feel the players are good enough to step up, they have won the league two years running now and hopefully they will want to go up with us.

“They enjoy playing for the club and hopefully we will progress together. A sensible decision will be made though and it is about getting the balance between being ambitious and being realistic.”