Andrew Tague, manager of Concorde Squash Club on Victoria Street, said the club will shut down on July 31, after more than 25 years' trading.

Mr Tague, a painter and decorator who ran the club for five years, said: "It's just been so quiet over the past two or three months. A lot of the squash players seem to have retired or given up.

"It's been on the cards for so long and we've struggled along, but it's a large building to heat and in winter it's going to cost a fortune.

"I've had quite a reduction in the rent and I've been working full-time on the Midland Hotel until recently, so not to take a big wage out of the club.

"But the club has to pay its way and it hasn't been for a long time."

Mr Tague said the impending opening of the JJB Fitness Club in Morecambe was not a factor behind the decision to shut.

Members of the club, which has squash courts, a gym, snooker tables and a bar, have been informed of the closure by letter.

The Visitor understands that members of Concorde formed a committee earlier this year and were in negotiations to buy the club to keep it going, but talks broke down over the asking price.

Mr Tague said he had been unable to find another buyer.

Concorde still has four squash teams playing in local leagues, who will now be left homeless.

Long-time club member John Lambert, Morecambe's top squash player who plays for Lancashire and Preston Grasshoppers, said he was "very upset" at the closure.

"It's going to be a massive loss," said John, who has played squash at Concorde since he was a boy.

"There's a lot of people like myself who have been members for 20 or 30 years. I don't know what I'm going to do. Hopefully someone will take the club on."

Although Mr Tague holds the lease, the building is owned by Dashwood Associates of London.

Recently The Visitor reported that Chris Fearnley and Shelby Walker, of QTs Bar on Edward Street, had bought the adjoining Oscar's bar and Crystal T's nightclub – with a view to re-opening by the end of 2008.