AN open letter to everyone who cares about football in Chorley.

We would like to express our condolences to all fans of Chorley Lynx RLFC, which folded last weekend.

As this newspaper stated on the front cover of last week's edition, the end of Chorley Lynx should serve as a wake up call to all those who wish to see Chorley Football Club thriving again.

Chorley Lynx played at the same ground, Victory Park, and were backed by the same organisation as Chorley FC.

As supporters of the football club we were and are grateful for the continuing support of Trevor Hemmings.

Given the withdrawal of funding to Lynx, however, we must all work to ensure Chorley has a thriving football club with or without his support.

We are determined to see Chorley start to make progress again and, to this end, we have set up a Supporters' Trust.

The Magpies Trust is a member-owned non-profit making company, which aims to aid the football club's board in their mission to keep Chorley FC alive, on budget and to develop young talented players, such as Jamie Vermiglio and Danny Queeley, of whom the supporters and the town can rightly be proud.

Two weeks after the official launch meeting, the Magpies Trust already has over 50 full members and has raised over £1,000 from donations and well-supported raffles.

We have set up links with Lindsay Hoyle, MP for Chorley, and officers of the borough council, organised visits to the ground on match days by Derian House residents, and arranged Tom Finney's attendance at the pre-season friendly with Preston North End.

It is vital that this momentum be maintained and support galvanised so that, should Lynx's fate befall Chorley FC as well, we are in a position to carry senior football forward in Chorley.

We need more members and volunteers to continue what we have started.

No matter what your skills or abilities are, we need your help. In particular, we are looking for anyone who has secretarial skills and would be prepared to spare a couple of hours every other week to help sport in Chorley.

Whether you are an individual or run a local business, your help would be most welcome.

For further information and details of how you can help save Chorley FC, visit our website at www.magpiestrust.org

Mick Brotherton, Lynne Gore, Colin Holden, Ryan Modlin, Julie Powell, Mark Rees and Peter Rothwell

Magpies Trust working group