Carshalton not accepting relegation

[Ryan.c]

Carshalton ready to take FA to court

By Craig Nelson

Carshalton Athletic have appealed to the Football Association and threatened to take them to the High Court if they do not reverse the club's relegation from Nationwide Conference South.

 

Roger Searle, the Robins' chief executive, believes the FA have broken their own rules after failing to grant his club a reprieve following Canvey Island's withdrawal from the Nationwide Conference.

 

Canvey's decision to drop into the Ryman League and Tamworth's subsequent reprieve from relegation from the Conference created an extra space at Conference South/North level.

 

continued...

FA rules dictate the relegated team with the best record at this level should win a reprieve.

 

Carshalton finished with one point more than their Conference North counterparts, yet it was Leigh RMI who escaped relegation when the FA anno-unced next season's non-league structure last Friday.

 

"We were shocked by this announcement," said Searle.

 

"It is clear that the FA have broken their rules.

 

"In our opinion, they have made this decision out of expediency and I believe we have a very strong case."

 

The FA have caused controversy through the non-league pyramid with their resstructuring plans.

 

Midlands clubs had been campaigning for their own league, while Ryman League Division One clubs flirting with relegation had been unclear as to their fate even after the season had ended.

 

Corinthian Casuals, who finished bottom of Ryman One, escpaed relegation after the division was doubled in size.

 

With such confusion, coupled with Canvey's last minute decision, Searle believes that the FA chose the easiest rather than the right course of action.

 

"Tamworth should have been playing in Conference North, so it seems the FA have decided to let off the team that was due to be relegated from Conference North," he said.

 

"That is clearly not on.

 

"If the FA wanted to change their rules, that decision should have been voted on by all Conference sides.

 

"They should have called an extraordinary annual general meeting and they didn't.

 

"I assume they wanted to speed up the process, but it will now take two or three weeks to hear our appeal.

 

"The Ryman League has called an extraordinary AGM when I expect them to support us. I also understand Leigh RMI are not happy with the decision they actually wanted to be relegated.

 

"If the FA do not grant our appeal we will seek legal advice and will take them to the High Court if necessary."

 

An FA spokesman confirmed an FA Board of Appeal would consider the points raised by Carshalton "in accordance with Conference rules".