Ellingham are taking steps to improve facilities at their Picket Post ground to boost their prospects of promotion to the Southern Electric Premier Cricket League in the future.

The New Forest club finished runners-up to Waterlooville in Hampshire League, County Division 1 last summer, winning all but one of their 14 completed matches, and securing a potential promotion position.

But, despite the club enjoying its best season ever, they were unable to meet all the criteria laid down by the Premier League and were prevented from going up.

Ellingham did not meet the SEPL’s ground accreditation requirements and, at the end of the 2013 season, did not have an ECB Clubmark – a mandatory requirement for entry into the SPL’s bottom tier since 2009. It means Ellingham will remain in the Hampshire League for at least another season.

In a statement on Ellingham’s behalf, club captain Phil Turner said: “After discussing the options, including joining the Dorset League, our committee has decided that we will remain in Hampshire League County Division 1. “Obviously, the whole club was disappointed to not gain promotion but we are taking steps to improve our facilities and ground.

“Our Clubmark approval is 95 per cent complete and is planned to be finished by May 2014.”

Ellingham are to explore options of building a new pavilion and also improving the playing surface at their ground, which sits alongside the busy A35 east of Ringwood. Mr Turner’s statement continued: “As part of our ambitious plans for the future we are planning a new purpose built pavilion. “This will have to be approved by the Forestry Commission and the Verderers, but we are confident this will be achieved as the design offered will be clad in natural wood which will blend better into the countryside and be more appealing on the eye than our existing pavilion.” Plans are already underway for the cricketers to improve the square, outfield and other facilities at Picket Post. “We are also improving our wicket protection by purchasing a made-to-fit UV rain sheets that will sit inside our railings during wet days and nights before games,” Turner added.

“We are also upgrading to double sightscreens at each end of the ground to further work towards higher accreditation standards. Over the winter/spring we will also be working on our outfield to further increase the playing surface before the start of the 2014 season, with high standards being maintained through the summer by regular rolling and scarifying.”

Ellingham say they “are still confused by the Premier League’s ruling requiring a fence around our ground.”

“We don’t have any bother by the animals on match days. With the work we have proposed it will become a great cricket ground.”

Despite being denied promotion, Ellingham don’t expect any of their current first team to leave and, with several new players expected to join their ranks, should have an even stronger squad to press home their claims.

“This, coupled with our quickly developing colts set-up gives us the confidence that we can only expect the same if not better success in future seasons,” Turner continued.

“We are endeavouring to raise the standards of our ground and will invite the Premier League grounds committee to re-visit us should we finish in the top two in the HL again.”

Alton’s second team, who finished third behind Ellingham in County Division 1 this summer, have been promoted alongside champions Waterlooville. It is believed, however, that Waterlooville need to undertake improvements to their ground at Rowlands Avenue.