DON’T COME BACK HERE!

Evesham not welcome

THE war between Evesham United and Cinderford Town shows no sign of abating as the summer of bad blood continues to flow.

Cinderford have written to their Southern League rivals explaining that chairman Jim Cockerton, the club’s directors and all its committee members are banned from The Causeway.

The clubs have been at each other’s throats during the close season, a battle sparked by Cinderford’s announcement that they would not be accepting promotion after winning the Southern League South & West.

Because of their decision – which was eventually overruled at appeal – Evesham would have been shifted into the Evo-Stik NPL because of the lateral movement a sudden rejig to the constitution would have forced.

Cockerton was vocal and told The NLP that Cinderford were “cheating” by playing God and deciding that they wouldn’t go up – and it would cost his club upward of £25,000.

The chairman claimed Town’s decision to refuse promotion was motivated by Hereford’s entry into the league they were due to be leaving. A guaranteed cash boost of over £15,000 was on offer from a bumper home gate with the clubs just 20 miles apart.

“We feel they have cheated, there’s no other word for it, and you can’t pick and choose what level you play at,” he said in the aftermath.

“Let me be clear, they have broken the rules. Clubs are not allowed to pick and choose the league they play in. You can’t just decide you don’t want to go up.”

It turned out Cockerton was correct. At an appeal the FA concluded their leagues committee didn’t enforce the correct rules and they returned to the original structure.

Cinderford will play as initially planned in the Southern Premier next season and say they are more than happy to do so – but it appears that’s not the end of the matter.

They wrote to Evesham last week outlining that all officials from the club will not be welcome at their ground until an apology is made for the comments.

The NLP understands Cockerton stands by his statement to us – and has no plans to say sorry for his outburst last month.

Despite the clubs being in separate divisions, they have drawn each other a number of times in cup competitions in previous years.