Manager and Club very disappointed.
U18 manager, Adie Beaton, informed the club last Sunday, 23rd August 2015, that despite indications to the contrary from certain players, he was struggling to be able to be confident of putting out a team, week in, week out.
In the various meetings held internally with club officials both he and the club were confident that come "registration day", which was last Sunday, that enough players had committed themselves to either carry on with the squad they played with last season or to join this squad for the coming 2015/16 campaign.
However, despite the "commitment" indicated previously, not enough players decided to join last Sunday and therefore, the manager and club were left with a difficult decision to make.
Despite numerous telephone calls to potential players both the manager and club were left with no other option but to inform the Southern Combination Youth U18 League that they will have to withdraw their application to play in the league for the 2015/16 season.
The decision was not made lightly by the manager or the club however, it had to be made in fairness to the league and all the other teams involved in the competition.
Apart from the damage to the reputation of the club this withdrawal will cause, there will also be a hefty fine, something our club is not used to incurring.
However, what is of a greater concern to all involved is what is to happen to those players who had committed themselves to the squad and had stuck by their decision.
They will have the option of joining our U21 squad, which is a young squad anyway or they have the option to join the club's Youth Section U18 squad who will play in the Mid-Sussex League for the 2015/16 season.
They also, of course, have the option to find football themselves with another club should either of the two options outlined above, not be of interest to them.
It's very sad that this situation has arisen but the manager and club had no other option in the end due to impending league registration rules.