SUPPORTERS of a social club regarded as the last link to steel-making in a Valleys' town face an anxious wait over its future.

The committee of the Ebbw Vale RTB Sports and Social club were meeting landowners Corus today to find out if they have a role in the regeneration of the former steelworks site after the closure of the Corus plant.

The club and Lever Hall currently stand on land earmarked for a £4m housing development under the Corus Masterplan commissioned by Blaenau Gwent county borough council, the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) and Corus.

Members were told to vacate the building by the end of April to allow demolition work to begin, but this deadline was extended to this Saturday to allow last minute talks to take place between the WDA and the local authority.

Following the meeting on Monday afternoon, the WDA and the council agreed to support the retention of the club in principle, but not to provide any financial assistance to the facility for the next nine months until Corus relinquish ownership of the land.

The club's only chance of survival now is if Corus provide funding over the coming months as the club is running at a loss - particularly in light of the uncertainty regarding their future which has led to a dramatic decline in bookings for wedding receptions and conferences at Lever Hall.

Before Monday's meeting between officials from the WDA and council, around 90 supporters of the RTB club gathered with banners and placards outside the civic centre.

A spokesman for the WDA said: "The meeting explored the possible options for the RTB club on the steelworks site. The two organisations (WDA and council) confirmed they would support the club in its effort to produce a viable business plan."

Dai Davies, secretary of the RTB club said: "The steel industry has been supportive of the club since the 1950s so whether that support continues is debatable.

"We need an answer on our future from