The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Whittlesey withdraw from league after just 10 matches
Football - Shocking few days for high-profile club
It’s been an awful few days for leading local club Whittlesey Athletic who lost a highlyrated manager and their hard-earned United Counties League status within 24 hours. A f unding f ailure caused heartbreak at Feldale Field. It left the club unable to bring the ground upto UCL standard before the September 30 deadline.
Manager Andy Lodge quit the club when he found out the club’s UCL status was under threat and 24 hours later Whittleseywithdrewfromthe competition just 10 matches into their first season as astep six club.
Thatdecisonisunderstood to have cost the club a £750 fine, but there would have been more serious financial ramifications if they hadtried to battle on.
Whittlesey’s four teams in the Peterborough League and their Under 18 side in the Peterborough & District Youth League are unaffected by the move.
Lodge said: “It’s a crying shame for the whole club. I felt I couldn’t carry on when I heardthenewsovertheweekend.
“We had worked so hard to realise our ambition and to have it taken away so quickly is hard to take.
“The club have taken a sensible decision in the circcumstances as the fines we would have faced by trying to carry on would have been huge.
“It’s important we safeguarded the club’s future in the Peterborough League and the future of the youth team.”
Lodge will now take a breather from management, butit’s likely adoublePFASenior Cupwinningmanagerwill receive plenty of offers.
Whittlesey c hairman Wayne Gale issued a club statement.
It read: “It’s a huge disappointment to everyone at the club and the local community, but our priority has always been to provide footballing opportunities, whatever the level, to Whittlesey and the surrounding villages. This decision will safeguard the future of the club.”