AMATEUR footballers have cried foul over the cost of hiring pitches in Inverclyde - and warned that teams will be forced to fold if they aren't reduced soon.

Officials at Port Glasgow AFC say that local teams will be facing a choice between playing 'home' games outside the area or shutting up shop if Inverclyde Leisure doesn't reduce its pitch rental prices.

The views expressed by the club have been backed by a league body, with a number of teams agreeing Inverclyde Leisure's prices are too steep compared to those in neighbouring districts.

An adult team wishing to play 11-a-side matches on one of IL's 3G pitches and booking for two hours would be charged £153.

An amateur club renting the same type of pitch for the same activity from Renfrewshire Leisure would be charged £97.

John O'Neill, team manager at Port Glasgow AFC, says it could be full-time for teams soon if the gap is not bridged.

He said: "We've already been told there's another rise in costs coming this April.

"It's getting too much and it's going to end up putting teams under because they can't afford it.

"We're a local team, we don't want to go elsewhere - we don't want to go and play home games in Clydebank or go other places.

"We love playing at Parklea and playing our home games out of town is the last thing we want to do.

"But we need a reduction in prices, it's as simple as that.

"We just need the prices to at least be the same as those next door.

"You could see from the reaction we got when we posted about this online - almost every team in Inverclyde agreed.

"There's not one that would say we're getting value for money."

The Greenock & District Welfare League, a local Sunday league, say they agree prices are too high.

A league spokesperson told the Tele: "All we are looking for is for Inverclyde Leisure to match our neighbours' prices."

When contacted about the concerns, an Inverclyde Leisure spokesperson highlighted various schemes and grants that teams could use to help cope with operating costs, as well as cheaper alternatives to 3G pitches.

They also highlighted the significant investments made in local facilities.

They said: "Amateur teams who choose to play on the 3G pitches generally only book a 90 minute slot at a charge of £114.75.

"We still allocate a two hour window, to facilitate changing.

"A number of the amateur clubs routinely play their fixtures on the grass pitches across Inverclyde, this costs £66 per match for two hours and is a cheaper option for teams who do not have the funds.

"Local under 19s teams continue to benefit from the Inverclyde Council’s sports waiver scheme which subsides the cost of pitches in Inverclyde, which is unique amongst many other local authorities, helping support sport at a grassroots level.

"Adult sports teams can apply for funding to the council’s Grants to Voluntary Organisations - now known as Community Fund scheme - to help with operating costs.

"Indeed, some of the adult teams across a number of sports have been successful with this.

"The 3G pitches throughout Inverclyde have received major investment over recent years by Inverclyde Council to the tune of over £2 million with additional investment being made in 2022."