Wellington Amateurs stay up following week of confusion

Wellington were forced to turn to FA chiefs in London last week following a snap vote to cut the amount of teams in the division from 21 to 20.

Mark Taylor’s side had expected to be relegated into Division One at the end of the 2016/17 campaign after finishing second-bottom in the Premier League.

But when Division One runners-up Wednesfield were denied promotion due to their Cottage Ground in Wolverhampton not meeting the required standards – Welly Ams were given assurances by league chairman Neil Juggins they would compete in the Premier Division next season.

On appeal, FA chiefs at Wembley overturned the decision not to allow Wednesfield to be promoted – meaning the Premier Division was extended to 21 teams.

But at a league AGM last month, the majority of clubs voted in favour of keeping a 20 team division.

That decision meant Amateurs would be relegated based on their league position last year.

But that sparked fury at the Oakengates-based club who had lined up signings and secured sponsorship on the basis they were a Premier Division team.

It lead to chairman David Gregory approaching the FA in London who overruled the decision so Welly Ams could complete in a 21 team division.

Then in a strange twist of fate, Willenhall Town – who are set to ground share with Wednesfield – lost their spot in the league due to Premier Division clubs not being able to rent stadiums that are classified as Grade G or lower.

“At the end of last season we expected to be relegated but we where then given assurances we wouldn’t be because of Wednesfield’s situation with their ground,” explained Gregory.

“Right from the start we were told we would not be relegated.

“Wednesfield won their appeal. But again we were given assurances we would not go down. The plan was to run with 21 teams in the league.

“Then at the AGM a motion was put forward to vote on whether the league should have 20 or 21 teams. The clubs voted for 20 teams and that effectively relegated us.”

Gregory said as soon as the result of the vote was revealed he turned to the FA at Wembley.

“An email was sent out with us in Division One and I was a bit perturbed when I saw it because of the assurances we had been given,” the chairman continued.

“We had recruited players based on being in the Premier Division. Our sponsors were on board on the basis we were in the Premier Division.

“I sought advice for an appeal and got in touch with the FA. It took them just 15 hours to adjudicate. They said clubs are not allowed to vote on the size of their league. It’s unconstitutional.

“And that meant we were reinstated.”

Gregory was keen to stress his side regaining their place in the league had nothing to do with the subsequent decision to demote Willenhall Town into Division One.

“Wednesfield and Willenhall are sharing a ground next season,” Gregory added.

“It’s a Grade H and Wednesfield have been granted permission to play there but they are not allowed to rent it out to another Premier Division club.

“They can rent it to a Division One club but not another side in the Premier Division.

“After everything that has gone on, the West Midlands League Premier Division is going to be a 20-team league after all.

“But we were happy for it to have 21 teams. Our situation has not led to Willenhall’s demise. I feel sorry for them. Nobody wants to see a fellow club relegated.”