TEMPERS are fraying once again at Tranent Juniors Football Club at the news that East Lothian Council has yet to appoint a contractor to fix long-standing drainage issues at Foresters Park.

Club officials were rejoicing last month after East Lothian Council agreed to provide funding to install a new drainage system at the Juniors" home ground, ending months of negotiations between the two organisations.

However, news that council-hired consultants are testing the grounds before a contractor is appointed has provoked an angry reaction from Juniors" managers, who claim the club can"t afford more delays.

Brian Johnston, the club"s general manager, told the Courier that the management committee had expected work to commence at Foresters no later than May 18, to ensure that the grounds would be ready for the new football season in mid-August.

Mr Johnston claims the club"s financial status and reputation will suffer, as bosses face paying for alternative grounds until 'well into the autumn' and struggle to attract new players and supporters with their Tranent base out of action. He said: 'We"re gutted about the whole situation.

'We thought everything had been put to bed but now they"ve (the council) decided to get more soil samples, which has already been done by a company - hired by the Juniors - in the past and won"t commit themselves to a date for the work to start.

'This will mean that we can"t begin training or play at Foresters Park until well into the autumn and we"re very disappointed by this decision.' It"s understood that the new system at Foresters - which has repeatedly suffered waterlogged pitches during wet weather in the past two years - will take about a week to complete, with approximately a further three months before the pitch is playable again.

A council spokeswoman explained that the analysis of the grounds was the first that the local authority had commissioned.

She said: 'Specialist consultants have visited Foresters Park to take soil samples from the football pitch, which will give us extensive information on the source of the problem and the work that is needed to resolve the outstanding problems with the pitch.

'It is expected that the consultant"s report will be available by the end of May and a contractor will then be appointed to carry out the necessary works in line with our procurement procedures.

'We appreciate that timing is of the essence and in view of this we are working to resolve the issues in time for the start of Tranent Juniors" new season.'