HARDY volunteers at Cinderford Town were made to wait for the official verdict after their ground grading assessment at the Causeway earlier this week.

A huge amount of man hours has gone into bringing Town’s home up to scratch to keep them in the Southern League, with a new stand in the process of being built and various other improvements needed.

The assessment went ahead on Monday after a work deadline of March 31, but Town are expected to get the grade needed to secure football in the Southern League South & West Division, their likely destination after a difficult season on the pitch.

Defeat to Leamington at home in midweek was followed by a 1-0 loss at Cambridge City on Saturday and it leaves Town staring down the barrel of relegation from the Premier Division.

But there is room for optimism with the new management regime, headed by Paul Michael, inspiring hope in supporters.

Michael himself issued an apology to fans following the defeat to Cambridge and targeted a title challenge in the division below next season on social media.

“Thank you to everyone who travelled to support today but even more special thanks to all the people putting in the hours at the ground,” Michael said in a post on Facebook.

“Sadly our performance in the second half today didn’t match the efforts that you are all making for the football club.

“The next six games will now see us developing a new playing identity and identify the players who want to be part of a title challenge next season.

“Apologies on behalf of the players and management for the second half today.”

• Town’s GFA Challenge Cup semi-final against Southern Premier rivals Cirencester Town will take place in two weeks.

Cinderford host their county neighbours on Wednesday April 19 with a 7.45pm kick-off.

The winners will take on either Mangotsfield United or Bristol City Reserves, who contest the other semi-final next Wednesday evening.