The future of Carlisle squash club is set to be decided by Sport England in the coming weeks.

The club was hit by the floods late last year and is still trying to get back up and running almost six months after Storm Desmond.

Now it is in talks with Sport England about the future, with two clear options available.

Chairman Trevor Musson spoke about potential outcomes, saying: “The club as it stands at the moment is being put back together as best we can and we’re working with Sport England who are looking at the situation of all sports clubs in Carlisle after the floods.

“They are debating between two options for the club, the first being to raise the club up to a higher level so that the squash courts are less likely to be hit by flood water.

“Or we find a new site altogether for the club and move it elsewhere, with the possibility that we could join up with the cricket club at a new home.

“However there are a lot of people who want the club to stay on the current site for sentimental reasons, because this is the only place we’ve ever been, but we have to make the best decision for the club.”

Carlisle Squash club is a centre of excellence and helps train some of England’s top talents, and Sport England have given the club various grants in order to help with refurbishments.

The club are carrying out repairs and are trying to make it more water resistant for any future flooding that may occur, in order to prevent serious damage from taking place.

Manager and coach Ronnie Bell is eager to see the club get back on track.

He said: “As of Monday we will have six courts up and running. Other repair work continues and it could still be a while yet until we are fully functioning.

“This time around the flood water was around two feet higher than in 2005, but due to our position on the floodplain, there is always going to be a possibility of flooding.

“We’ve lost huge amounts of trade because of it, lots of the gym members have moved away to other places, because our gym was badly damaged and the top floor of the gym has only recently reopened.

“But the majority of the squash members have stayed because there isn’t the facilities anywhere else.”

The damage is estimated to have cost the club between £800,000 and £1m, including all of the contents.

The club was told by Sport England that a decision was set to be made by the end of this month but that no longer looks likely, with a decision now set to be made at the end of June.

Musson said: “Sport England have given us grants to get up and running again as best we can and we will be very grateful for whatever decision they make.”