TAUNTON Town chairman Kevin Sturmey says improvements to the club's changing rooms are well in hand.

It was reported last week that the Football Association had written to several Non-League clubs, warning they will be relegated if they do not make their dressing rooms larger.

Clubs at steps three and four of the National League System will now need to have facilities of a minimum of 18 square metres, by March 31, 2019.

But Taunton, a step three club, are not at risk of being relegated, according to Sturmey.

He told the County Gazette: "It is in hand, and we planned to make changes [to the dressing rooms] anyway.

"We're lucky to have the space to do so, as some clubs' facilities are built within their boundary with no room to expand.

"It's money we could do without spending now, but we can buy a unit and then reutilise it in the future."

Sturmey added that the home changing room was fine, but the away team's space was about 13 square metres, with more space required for the increased backroom staff now employed by teams.

He believes that the club should be able to make the changes early next year.

He said: "We are trying to source quotes and then apply for funding, as we plan to sort it next year.

"We need to connect drains, the water and electricity.

"Touch wood, we hope to be up to date with our fixtures by January, though there are bound to be some games called off [due to winter weather].

"There is a time window in February, when we play a couple of away matches, when we could do the work."

Sturmey added that it is "a bit silly" to set a March deadline, in the middle of the season.

"Hundreds of clubs don't comply, even at step two level.

"There was an opportunity with the league restructure to have graded grounds last summer, and have all this done with then – it's a threat which has been hanging over clubs for years.

"But as I've said before, it's like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut!"