'A sad day' as AFC Ludlow choose to fold
Boss Dave Cooper admitted it's a 'sad day' as AFC Ludlow folded after failing to attract enough players to start the new season.
The club have resigned from the West Midlands League and informed the Shropshire Football Association of their decision.
The club's recent AGM failed to attract enough players to form a squad for the forthcoming season and chairman Roger Wilding.
It means manager Cooper and assistants Tim Moriarty and Michael Seaborne, also the vice-chairman, have all resigned.
The four were all founders of the club when it was relaunched as AFC Ludlow four years ago and the club won two promotions, before finishing third in Division One last season.
Cooper said: "We have folded. AFC Ludlow is no more. It's a sad day and I feel sorry for the seven or eight (players) who wanted to carry on.
"We had a meeting but no one was willing to take on the responsibility of running it because they know how much it takes.
"I just couldn't go through another season with a lack of commitment from the players.
"Up until Christmas we were getting 17, 18 turning up but then we had a couple of injuries.
"We had a few weeks off with the bad weather and a few players left and we were just about getting 11 players.
"A lot of people have put a lot of hard work into getting that football team going from scratch and, in a click of a finger, it's gone."
An appeal for players to attend the annual general meeting 10 days ago saw only seven or eight turn up.
The decision means there will be no senior football team in Ludlow for next season.
Cooper revealed the playing kits have been passed on to Ludlow Colts, who are an under-17s team who play in the Herefordshire League.
The 41-year-old hasn't shut the door on the club starting up again, however.
He said: "We've got a little bit of money left and we'll keep the bank account open and re-evaluate at Christmas time and see if anyone wants to take it on."
Cooper admits he is ready to have a break from football for a while. He said: "I've lost my appetite for the game.
"I'm going to watch my son Keanu, who's 18 and trying out with Shawbury United."
Last season Ludlow finished three points behind runners-up Hereford Lads Club and 14 adrift of champions Shifnal Town.
