Statement ref Newton Abbot AFC

[Stig]

Taken from the CSWPL website.

Official Statement Issued by the Carlsberg South West Peninsula Football League Ltd

Tuesday 21st October 2008

The board of the SWPL Ltd have today suspended Newton Abbot AFC from membership of the league for a breach of the articles of association.

In particular the club have not been able to furnish us with names of any responsible persons to hold positions of authority at the club. (Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer etc)

In the absence of club officials Newton Abbot AFC cannot reasonably fulfil their obligations to the league.

The consortium who have attempted a rescue package have not been able to commit to taking over the club, but the reasons for that are not for the board to directly concern itself with. There is still time for a rescue package but that time is fast running out.

The league have not received any communication regarding a finalised take over and also confirm that we have not received a resignation or withdrawal notice either.

In the event that these matters remain unresolved the next board meeting of the league, on the 6th November, will have no choice but to consider a motion to expel the club from the league for repeated breaches of rule 8.6. (Failure to fulfil fixtures)

The suspension can only be lifted if the club can satisfy the board that such responsible persons are put in place and authorised to act upon behalf of the club.

Regarding matches currently scheduled the game at home to Clyst Rovers AFC on Wednesday 22nd October has today been cancelled, a decision as to the game at home to Tavistock AFC on Saturday 25th October will be made on Thursday (23rd October) at 5pm. Any subsequent decision as to the away game at Dartmouth on the 1st November will be made on Thursday 30th October at 5pm.

[Paul]

What a farce!! I said at the start, if the clubs didnt have the facilities then they shouldnt be allowed in the league. This is a very low point and next year they should be thrown down to the lowest level and made to work their way back up....if they have a team at all that is!!

[Guest plainmoor]

What a farce!! I said at the start, if the clubs didnt have the facilities then they shouldnt be allowed in the league. This is a very low point and next year they should be thrown down to the lowest level and made to work their way back up....if they have a team at all that is!!

I think that you may be mistaken Paul, Newton Abbot have very good facilities, the ground is located at Devon County FA HQ in coach road. Newton Abbot Spurs play at the Recreation Ground which is a spit from the train station.

[Paul]

No im not mistaken!! Been to both grounds. If they had things right this wouldnt happen. Having a nice building for the Devon F.A to drink tea in dosnt make the club set up for the Swpl. I wish then the best but it could make a farce of this season.

[Richard Rundle]

What a farce!! I said at the start, if the clubs didnt have the facilities then they shouldnt be allowed in the league. This is a very low point and next year they should be thrown down to the lowest level and made to work their way back up....if they have a team at all that is!!

What facilities do you think Newton Abbot are lacking?

--

Richard

[Paul]

Floodlights for a start. That should have been one big thing for clubs to have. I no there was something like a 3 year period for clubs to put things in place but if a club cant even raise a side that hosts the Devon F.a then what chance of floodlights??

[Paul]

I might have made a mistake with the lights but at the end of the day, a team pulling out the league after a handfull of matches is bad news.

[Guest crosser]

Think your being a tad harsh Paul, without knowing all the facts which I don't and i'm guessing you don't if you can't make up your mind over the floodlights.

But reading the CSWPL board this is the club that had the tie in with dawlish and a lot of finger pointing is going in that direction. Its a sad day when a club completely folds and things aren't looking too bright for their future.

Hopefully someone will step in and sort this mess out.

[Guest]

For a start the Coach Road ground does have floodlights. And before we get carried away with condeming Newton Abboot these things happen. There is a little bit of history here and it alll relates to Devon FA. I think I am right in saying that for some rediculous reason Newton Abbot allowed Devon FA to take over the ground for absolute peanuts and again this is from memory Newton Abbot FC could stay there rent free. I think the agreement was for Devon FA to level the pitch, build a grandstand, a club house, changing rooms and county offices This no rent agreement had lasted for some time and then Newton Abbot FC found out they had to to start paying rent and had been fighting this. The amount owed is close to £30,000. The county then wanted Newton Abbot kicked out because again this is just a poor memory but Newton Abbot for whatever reason couldn't pay the rent or arrears.

The people who engineered this, from what I can gather have long gone. Leaving Newton Abbot FC in a no win situation.

Anyone like to add or deny the above then please do.

But I would suggest blaming the current set-up is wrong.

This appeared in the Herald Express.

PREMIER Division side Newton Abbot face expulsion from the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League after pulling out of tonight's scheduled home game against Clyst Rovers. And fears are growing the Coach Road club may be forced to withdraw their Reserves from the WBW Solicitors South Devon League for the same cash-strapped reasons, including a £26,000 rent-backlog owed to their landlords Devon County FA. For now, the Coach Road club has been suspended by the Peninsula League having already been fined £250 and had deducted three points for failing to fulfil a fixture in Cornwall against Wadebridge Town the Saturday before last.

The shock developments were revealed to an unsuspecting group of players by manager and former Torquay United striker John Gayle before last night's light training session ahead of this evening's clash.

Gayle, who says he's also owed wages on a contract both as Newton Abbot manager and part of the club's Football in the Community team set up in partnership with Dawlish Town in March, told the Herald Express:

As I see it, Newton Abbot AFC has folded as a club because of the debts involved, and not just money owed to the landlords. "I had been preparing for a first team game tomorrow (Wednesday), but was informed by the Peninsula League yesterday morning that we are suspended. "I did contact the league, and it seems we've been badly let down after what had been promised when I joined the club from Totnes and Dartington SC in the close season. "I've had to explain to the players (there are 18 to 20 in the first team pool) that they'll each be fined £29 for being part of the club if it folds, but that they're free to transfer elsewhere once it's been paid." Gayle added: "It's very disappointing that it should happen to a big club like this, and I feel so sorry for the people connected with Newton Abbot AFC. "Some have been involved for a long time, while I also feel for the 10 players I brought with me from Totnes and Dartington. "They came because of me after I'd been promised the opportunity to take the club forward. We've all been let down, and now I'm wishing we had people like Charlie (Stephens), Blakey (Alan Blake), Ken Phillips and Nigel Syms from Totnes and Dartington, because they'd have helped me make this a successful club. "It's likely that I'll take myself and family back to Birmingham after all this: it's such a pity after all that I had planned for the club, the players and all the young kids coming through. In that sense, it been a pleasure to be involved."

Meanwhile, reserve team manager Jim Barrett felt it inappropriate to speculate on the future of his South Devon League side until issues had become clearer. "It's still a very disappointing situation to be in, and a matter of great concern," he said. "Also, it's embarrassing, especially with so many officers having left the club. "If we do find ourselves in a similar position to the first team, each player needs to make his own decision on whether or not to stay with the club, but for now we have a Premier Division game against Waldon on Saturday and it hasn't been cancelled as far as I know."

NEWTON ABBOT Under-15 manager Adrian Stocker confirmed last night that he was taking his squad to Abbotskerswell in view of the crisis at Coach Road. "All my players want is to be able to play football, so we'll be playing under the name of Abbotskerswell against Watts Blake Bearne on Sunday," he said.

[whuru]

I know at first hand what Newton Abbott are going through and all the condemnation that goes on especially when people only know half the story, I said when Goonhavern withdrew at the start of the seaon that we wouldn't be the only one s to go under this year and gossip is that one or two are on the brink........

I really don't know whats going on. is it the travelling, the credit crunch or is it players are playing for two much money for the standard they are playing ???

[pete dillon]

Very much the latter reason John - far too much money being thrown at players and at this level it is absolutely ridiculous.

[NORTH DEVON DWELLER]

Paul i think you have been quick to condemn Newton Abbot but their facilities are second to none. As for the state they are in at the moment much like myself you know nothing about it so lets all leave it to the people who do know to sort things out.