MOLE Valley SCR have had to find a new home after being forced to leave their River Lane base.

The Combined Counties Division One outfit will ground share with Cobham this season, with plans to develop a site in Thames Ditton for use the following year.

It is a major blow to the club on the eve of the CCL season, after spending a huge amount of time developing the River Lane ground last year in preparation for promotion to the Premier Division.

Although their promotion ambitions fell away right at the end of the campaign, the Fetcham-based ground itself had already passed a league inspection for the higher level of football after a huge effort from the SCR team and officials.

"As you can imagine we are all hugely disappointed to be leaving River Lane after putting so much time and work into building up the ground," said SCR manager Darren Salmon. "We only found out a couple of weeks ago and to have no ground right on the eve of the season was a nightmare really.

"Thankfully, both the league and Cobham FC have been absolutely fantastic and the first team will be ground sharing with them this season, while the rest of the club play at Weston Green Sports Ground in Thames Ditton.

"I think there is potential for us to stay at Cobham a further year, which means that we would be able to go up to the Premier Division if we get promoted, but at the moment its very early days and we don't know what the future holds."

While not wanting to get drawn on the exact reasons they were forced off the River Lane site, Salmon confirmed that there were "complications" with the lease and, as tenants on the ground, SCR have been forced out.

A statement from Mole Valley District Council, who own the land, simply said: "The River Lane Sports Ground has been subject to landlord and tenant issues between Mole Valley District Council and the football club.

"Steps are being taken to hopefully resolve the matter to both parties' satisfaction."

SCR's first CCL Division One match is away at Westfield on Saturday.