THE future of a popular Southampton sports centre providing vital facilities for families and pensioners hangs in the balance.

Bosses at Oasis Hub Lord's Hill warn they will have to close their doors before Christmas after spiralling into financial difficulties.

But community groups are launching an eleventh hour bid to save it from closure.

It comes as families make an impassioned plea to keep open the facility they say is vital for sports and leisure.

Management have announced the centre Green Lane will close on December 13 due to a lack of cash.

A statement released by bosses at Oasis UK said: “It is with regret that Oasis Hub Lord’s Hill, from the 13th December, will no longer be able to run community services from the building due to issues of financial sustainability.”

But users of the centre, which comprises of a sports hall, football pitches, a studio space, a small gym and two meeting rooms, say it provides essential services to the local community.

Marion Gealer, 49, a health and well-being officer who runs four classes from the site, said of the closure, “I would be absolutely gutted. I’ll have to find a different venue. The facilities here are fabulous, especially for disabled people. It’s rare to find somewhere with a car park, changing rooms and a lift."

She added: "It would attack social isolation, which is a huge issue in health at the moment.”

A number of organisations have approached Southampton City Council bidding to take over the site including football charity Saints Foundation who are understood to be favourites.

A spokesperson from Saints Foundation said: “We are in ongoing discussions as are other organisations with the council and we want to keep a close eye on what happens to the future of the building.”

Oaklands Community Pool also put in a bid but were unsuccessful.

Council education and children's social care chief Councillor Daniel Jeffery, Labour, hopes a new organisation can take over by the end of this month and said: “Saints Foundation have been in discussion with the council. They’ve got a very strong brand and are widely recognised in the community.

“I think they will be able to put it on a sustainable footing which Oasis couldn’t do.

“Certainly my view is they would be the best and have the most capacity to deliver.

“We should have this sorted by the end of November, I believe.”

Dan Lally, Facility Manager at Oaklands Community Pool said taking over would be a "perfect set-up" which would help subsidise running the pool but added: "“They told us it was because Saints have got more money."

Cllr Sally Spicer, Labour councillor for Coxford who was involved in the re-fit of the Oaklands pool, said “Saints Foundation can probably sustain it for a couple of years but I think it would have been really good for Oaklands because the gym would generate revenue for them.”

Vox pops Brian Harris, 79, retired and from Oaktree Road in Bitterne Park comes to a keyboard group at the centre. He said “It’s terrible. Why do they have to drag it on for so long?”

Dot Emery, 75, retired, and from Swaythling said “It’s very unsettling. We’ve been coming for some time. You come and you know exactly where you’re going and then suddenly everything stops and you have to start again. We just want to know when, when, when.”

Pat Harris, 71, retired, from Treeside Road in Shirley comes to the centre every Tuesday for a light aerobics class. She said “It will be disappointing if it closes.

“The facilities are so good.

"But as long as it’s used for something and doesn’t go to waste.”