Ludlow Town quit Premier

Ludlow Town have sensationally resigned from the West Midlands Premier League citing financial problems - with the club set to start next season in the County Premier.

The club's board made the decision at a meeting this week and Town will now drop three levels and merge with the current reserve side already playing in the County Premier

Manager Stuart Corns has already left the south Shropshire club saying he was 'extremely disappointed' with the news adding that he felt the move was 'drastic.'

He said: "It's come as a massive shock to me. All I have been told is that the club is going to drop into the county premier league and join with the current reserve side.

"The club has just said they can't afford to run a team in the West Midlands Premier league.

"I think it's a bit of a knee jerk reaction to be honest. I've spent all season building a good team and we had a good year and it just seems a bit drastic.

"We finished in an FA Cup position and so we could have had a run in that and got some money into the club.

Secured

"We could have entered the FA Vase and got some money from that as well so it all seems a bit drastic. But there has been no support from the club all season."

Corns added that the decision will see the break-up of a squad which secured a top 10 finish.

"I won't be staying on. My ties with this club have finished now. I won't run a side or play in the county league because the standard is just not good enough, he said.

"I'm going to go on holiday and enjoy the World Cup and probably look to make a return to playing.

"I've told the players and made them aware and many of them are too good for West Midlands football so they won't have any problems finding other clubs.

"All the other local managers have already been in touch asking me if it's true so my players will be inundated with phone calls."

By ALEX JAMES