CASH-strapped Ipswich Town are facing another bill as they come out of administration – to complete work near the ground's new North Stand.Sir Alf Ramsey Way has still not re-opened to traffic – and the borough council has started putting pressure on the club to complete the work.

CASH-strapped Ipswich Town are facing another bill as they come out of administration – to complete work near the ground's new North Stand.

Sir Alf Ramsey Way has still not re-opened to traffic – and the borough council has started putting pressure on the club to complete the work.

The football club agreed to make road improvements and to pave the road behind the stand as part of the planning permission for the new North Stand granted in 2001.

Although the stand itself was largely completed by the start of last season, the finishing touches were not applied until the winter – just before the club went into administration.

The club was given permission to close the section of Sir Alf Ramsey Way behind the stand for a period of up to two years when work on the new stand began.

The demolition teams moved in during May 2001 – so the planning permission for the road closure runs out this month.

However the administrators did not authorise the club to spend the money – believed to be "a few thousand pounds" – to complete the work on the road and it has remained closed to traffic.

"We have had discussions with the club about this, and they have assured us the work will be done as soon as it comes out of administration," said borough engineer Pat Ryan.

"Some asphalt was put down to make the road safe for pedestrians, but that isn't load-bearing so vehicles can't use it.

"At present the road isn't safe for vehicles, but we hope the work will be carried out soon – and the club will also remove the temporary road link into Alderman Road and restore that bit of the park."

Ipswich Town spokesman Terry Baxter said the road restoration was not a major operation, and the club was as keen as the council to see the work completed.

"We aren't talking about a huge sum of money – a few thousands of pounds which should be authorised as soon as the administration period is over," he said.

"It's a pity the work hasn't been completed yet – it was one of the by-products of our period in administration."