Ryman League reject Hornets' groundshare deal at Crawley

SUSSEX club Horsham face an uncertain future after the Ryman Football League turned down their request of groundsharing at Blue Square Premier neighbours Crawley Town.

The Ryman Premier League club’s proposals to groundshare with Crawley Town on a temporary basis from next season have collapsed after the Ryman Football League refused Horsham’s application on the grounds that it would be “logistically impossible” to guarantee that games could be played on consecutive days, a scenario that could see fixtures disrupted and “cause prejudice to other members in the league.”

Horsham were also given false hopes that they might have been able to extend their stay at their present Queen Street ground for one further season, a decision that has now been denied to the obvious anger of the club’s board.

A contingency had already been drawn up in anticipation of these events and it is hoped that a further announcement can be made in two or three weeks time.

Club secretary Mr John Lines issued the following statement to the club’s website www.hornetsreview.co.uk

“I have had a letter from the Ryman League this week refusing our application to go to Crawley. This is because Crawley Council are negotiating a new lease with Crawley Town FC which will entail Crawley Town FC running the stadium.

“As a result, we were told just over a month ago that it was logistically impossible to guarantee that games could be played on consecutive days.

“This is unacceptable to the Ryman League as, in their words, 'that fixtures could be disrupted and cause prejudice to other member clubs in the league'.

“Despite several meetings, we have not been able to resolve this issue and therefore the negotiations with Crawley Council and Crawley Town Football Club have ceased.

“Furthermore, we were led to believe by Persimmon Homes at a meeting a month ago that there would be a strong possibility that we would be able to continue to stay at Queen Street next season if we agreed to their Appeal being withdrawn so as to renegotiate with Horsham Council a new scheme that would be financially beneficial to Horsham Football Club.

“This has been the reason for our apparent procrastination over the issues surrounding the end of season celebrations.

“Sadly, we learned yesterday that despite the Appeal now having been withdrawn, the Board of Persimmon Homes have decided that we must vacate, as previously agreed on the 8th May 2008. Having held up the carrot we are very angry it was withdrawn.

“So where do we go? In the interests of the club, we have had other contingencies that we have worked on but it would have been unreasonable to become embroiled in detailed negotiation whilst it seemed to all intents and purposes that we had a strong probability of going to Crawley.

“Now that it is clear this is not the case we are close to agreeing a ground share with another Club that we know is acceptable in principle to The Ryman League and with the Club itself.

“We are hopeful that contracts will be agreed and confirmed within the next two to three weeks but until then it is quite proper that the location is kept completely confidential and speculation avoided.

“I hope the supporters of Horsham FC accept that Frank King, myself and The Board are working to fulfil the best long term interests of the Club under difficult circumstances.”

Article courtesy of  www.hornetsreview.co.uk