Hitchin Town Football Club have called on the Charity Commission to ‘urgently investigate’ the actions of the trustees of the Hitchin Cow Commoners Trust.

In a petition launched by the club yesterday as part of their Save HTFC campaign, the Canaries are asking the government charities regulator: “To investigate why the Trust has agreed to exchange the football ground at Top Field, with an estimated value of £15 million for a piece of land at Stevenage Road with an estimated value of £200,000.”

So far more than 200 people have signed the petition.

The club is also holding a protest march on Saturday. 6 December, from 12.30pm at Butts Close with guest speakers, before throwing their doors open free of charge for the match versus Poole Town at 3pm.

Well-known Sky Sports presenter Guillem Balague, who lives in Hitchin, told the Comet: “If there was ever a time to help shape the Hitchin of the future and maintain the distinctive character that has either brought us or kept us here, December 6 is the day. And the march is the statement of intent.

“We need to keep the club, the field. Often change is good, necessary, but definitely not this time. So join us on the march starting at 12.30pm from Hitchin Town Football Club.”

The Hitchin Cow Commoners Trust is yet to comment.

To add your name to the petition click on the link at the top right of the page.