The people of Worksop have been asked to get behind their football team, just days before a public meeting about the lockout at Sandy Lane.

Worksop Town have been barred from their council-owned ground since the beginning of May by leaseholders 1861 Leisure Limited, and the club have called a meeting to garner support from the townsfolk.

Local MP John Mann has pledged his support for the meeting, to be held at Stanley Street Social Club on Tuesday at 7.30pm.

He said: "It would be an outrage for the Tigers to be barred from playing on their home ground. I will attend the public meeting called next week and I appeal for unity from all Worksop Town supporters."

"We need one voice and one vision and that has to be of a thriving football team underpinned by a thriving junior set up."

Much has been made of the club's 147 years of history in the town, and Mr Mann believes it cannot be allowed to go to waste, along with the potential to unearth local footballing talent.

The MP said: "Our history cannot be obliterated, in that we are fortunate to have the world's fourth oldest team."

"The club has had its ups and downs. But anyone looking at its youth structures knows that the potential for the future is huge and largely untapped."

"Its youth structure is a part of our future."

Mr Mann has challenged the people of influence in Worksop to come out in support of the football club.

"I also call for all community and business leaders to stand up and be counted on this one."

Worksop Town chairman John Hepworth will use the meeting to update supporters on the lockout.

He told the Guardian: "I want to put people in the picture as far as I can."

One concern for Mr Hepworth is that time is running out before the UniBond league's annual general meeting, by which time the club will be expected to have resolved the situation.

He said: "The Unibond want to help as much as they can. They want some sort of resolution by the middle of next month for the annual general meeting."

"After that the fixtures will be put in place, so we're in a race against time."

The club has begun to look at contingency plans for a groundshare outside of Worksop.

The chairman said: "We've got to have a plan B in place just in case it doesn't work out at Sandy Lane."

He believes the vast majority of Worksop people will get behind the club, who are still in the dark as to why 1861 Leisure Limited have locked them out.

"The groundswell of support for us has been terrific as more and more people realise the predicament we are in."

The Guardian has again requested a statement from 1861 Leisure Limited and Mr Howard Raymond but none had been received at time of going to press.