VCD Athletic set to appeal after Ryman League relegation

Tuesday 18th May 2010

VCD ATHLETIC Football Club have issued a statement concerning their enforced relegation from the Ryman League for off-the-field matters.

Manager Paul Foley led the Crayford based outfit to eighth place in their first ever campaign in the Ryman League Division One North, but were relegated for ground grading issues yesterday.

The Football Association published lists for league’s yesterday, and the Ryman League omitted VCD Athletic, who are expected to drop back down into the Bulmers Cider Kent League next season.

A Ryman League statement said: “VCD Athletic have been relegated to the Kent League after failing to achieve the necessary ground grading.

“They are treated as having finished 22nd in Division One North, thus giving a relegation reprieve to the actual bottom club, Harlow Town.”

Here is the VCD Athletic statement published in full on the club’s website www.vcd-athletic.co.uk.

“With the confirmation of the Ryman League constitution released today there was one notable omission from the Ryman North list, that of VCD Athletic FC.

“The list was issued to all Ryman clubs with the following proviso

“The FA have asked that the allocations are published with a note advising you there are a number of outstanding issues still to be resolved and the listings may be subject to subsequent change.’

“We are advised that the club is unable to comment too much at this moment in time as an appeal has been lodged with the FA (issued approx 2 weeks ago) in response to a letter received from the Ryman League notifying the club of their impending relegation from the league.

“This notification letter, as far as we are aware, is not in accordance to previously advised deadlines for the works to the perimeter path, hence the appeal being lodged with the FA.

“The works to the path are well underway (ahead of the proposed 12th June deadline) and the Ryman were, we believe, advised of their commencement with an invite to inspect progress.

“The path works are in addition to the previous work completed at Oakwood including raised handrails and infills to the perimeter of the pitch and previous work on the pathway to achieve a fully compacted surface, all at considerable expense.

“If the club should fail in their appeal it would have a severe impact on the club both in financial and football terms given the considerable work completed over the last 4-5 years to achieve the ambition of promotion to the Ryman League.

“The works to the path are due for completion very soon which is ahead of the previously 'agreed' deadline.

“As manager Paul Foley had warned in his recent review of the season, there were ‘more important things for the club to resolve before we can think about where we are targeting next season’ and this had been proved to be correct following the release of the Ryman allocations.

“Interestingly Harlow Town who were subjected to a points deduction by the league and were rumoured to be saddled with financial problems have been granted a reprieve at the hands of VCD’s relegation.

“Will the manager’s closing statement that the squad have ‘all agreed to stay at the club, subject to what happens with the ground grading obviously’ reverberate over the close season? It would appear that the club were expecting the Ryman to give due consideration to the considerable work completed to the ground over the season but this was not forthcoming and they will now be in the hands of the FA Appeals process.

“It is fair to say that the Ryman issue of the allocations list does include a caveat to the possible amendment of the list so VCD’s step 4 existence literally hangs in the balance despite their magnificent efforts on the pitch over the season in their debut outing in the league.

“It will be interesting to see how this issue pans out given the commonly regarded view that Oakwood is one of the better grounds in the Ryman North and other clubs appear to have have grounds that do not meet the required stadia criteria. Watch this space, never a dull moment at Oakwood!”

Visit VCD Athletic’s website: www.vcd-athletic.co.uk