SOLDIERING ON!
Fleet appeal for help after lateral move
FLEET Town chairman Alec Grant has accused the Southern League of jeopardising the club’s future.
The Blues, who are based in Hampshire, have lost their main ground sponsor, every player and their entire coaching staff after losing an appeal against their transfer from Isthmian South Central to Southern West.
Three-hundredmile trips to the likes of Bideford and Barnstaple will also mean triple the travelling costs, whilst their closest game is Winchester City – some 40 miles away.
Fleet, along with Hednesford Town and Banbury United, were uprooted after the collapse of Evo-Stik Premier side Shaw Lane three weeks ago and, according to Grant, given no opportunity to state their objections. This fact – an apparent contravention of FA regulations – had formed the basis of Fleet’s appeal. However, despite the Isthmian League’s willingness to accept Fleet and run with an odd number of clubs, Grant claims their Southern League counterparts vetoed the move, prompting an FA panel to uphold the decision. “When we came out of that we were fairly confident we’d won,” says Grant. “We got a very positive reception and the allocation committee chairman actually said that they could play with 21 clubs in the Isthmian. Unfortunately, the Southern League wouldn’t let us leave and that was that.”
Grant had initially threatened to withdraw Fleet from the Southern League if the appeal failed, but has now vowed to battle on.
“If we were to drop out, the Southern League could potentially fine us pretty heavily,” he explained. “We just weren’t prepared to take that risk. So we’ll plough on, probably with a youth-based team. Hopefully, that will be enough. “It’s hit us very hard. We’re trying to raise awareness, get support from sponsors and local communities. We’ll have to fundraise like mad. What we really need is a travel company. “It’s just a shame none of this was taken into consideraappeal, tion in the first place. FA regulations state that the allocation committee are supposed to take into account the financial impact of lateral moves, notify us and then hear what we’ve got to say.
“None of that happened. We just got one phone call 18 hours before the Isthmian AGM. It was devastating, and this is equally hard to take.
“People have made decisions that could threaten the future of the club. But we’re determined to carry on. Fleet Town was formed in 1890 and we’re not going away this year.” Hednesford and Banbury also failed with their appeals. Banbury will start the season in Southern Central after being moved from Southern South, whilst Hednesford will return to the Northern Premier League having initially been told they would play in Southern Central. “I am obviously very disappointed with this news,” said Hednesford manager Rob Smith, who saw summer signing Justin Richards depart as a result of the extra travelling. “This has now put us well behind in terms of recruitment and all our hard work to date has been badly damaged.”