Trustees of a historic working men’s club that is up for sale say the tradition will live on – only elsewhere.

Terry McDonald said since the For Sale sign went up at Lilycroft WMC in Toller Lane, the club’s phone had been red hot with people worried functions they had booked could be called off and money lost.

“That’s not the case at all,” he said. “The club is up for sale because its up-keep is too expensive. The truth is that it’s a lovely building but it’s just too big for us – the plan is to down-size hopefully to somewhere nearby so the club will live on but just at a different location.

“All the bookings we have got are safe so no one needs worry.”

Mr McDonald said trustees were hoping that once estate agents fees and other costs were paid out they might still have £450,000 to half a million to buy the club a new home.

“We’ve already started looking. Empty pubs are a possibility – ideally we’d like to stay in a two or three-mile radius from where we are now,” he said.

At its peak the club had about 500 members but now it has fallen to about 200 with a core membership of about 120.

The club’s present home, which dates back more than 150 years, was once a mill owner’s house and may have been linked to Sir Titus Salt’s family.

“Of course there’s a lot of sadness that after 30 or 40 years here as a club, we’re going to have to leave it behind but we really have no choice. We just can’t keep up with the high level of costs that it demands just to keep on top of maintenance and heat.

“All we need now is a place that can give us a games room, a lounge and a bar.

“The sale might take a bit of time to go through, it depends on the interest it gets but we are already seriously looking.

“If nothing comes up and we need to move out then we’ll just have to go somewhere temporarily,” he said.