HAMWORTHY United will groundshare with National South neighbours Weymouth to start the 2023-24 campaign.

Despite finishing third in their debut Southern League season, the closure of the main stand of Hammers’ County Ground home threatened demotion by three tiers due to ground grading regulations.

In February, the stand had been condemned by landlords Dorset County FA, leaving to Hammers scrambling to find alternative ways of reaching ground grading.

Dan Cann’s charges staged their semi-final play-off contest with Evesham United at Dorchester Town’s Avenue Stadium, and whilst there was an option for that arrangement to continue into the new season, the temporary switch proved financially unfeasible.

So far Hammers have raised £4,484 via a fundraising campaign for a new stand, with a target of £15,000 in mind.

A statement on the Hamworthy United website read: “The Weymouth Football Club Board of Directors have agreed to offer a short-term groundshare with Hamworthy United whilst work is undertaken on installing their new stand at the County Ground.

“The club faced the real threat of being demoted back to the Dorset Premier league due to ground grading issues.”

Hamworthy Chairman Steve Mitchener made the following comment: “I would like to thank Weymouth Football Club, the board of directors, especially Chairman Paul Maitland, for their help in securing a ground share option for the forthcoming season, which will allow Hamworthy United to remain at Step 4 in the NLS (National League System), whilst a new stand is built at the County Ground.”

Terras Chairman Paul Maitland added: “When we were approached late last week by Hamworthy and learned how bad their situation was we felt compelled to offer our support for another local side.

“Less than a year ago we faced the very real prospect of extinction and we needed the goodwill of other clubs and people to carry on, now it is our turn to step up and show the same support.”