Chairman Croft hits out at Wick’s relegation

It has emerged that Wick will be relegated from Division 1 on ground grading issues, despite finishing the season sixth from bottom and clear of the relegation places.

Croft has called the relegation a joke as they have now done all the relevant work to get the appropriate grade to stay in Division 1, but has been told it is too late as the deadline was March 31.

The drop means that boss Gary Block, as suspected, left the club and has since joined local rivals Arundel as joint manager, although Wick have moved fast to appoint former Mullets boss Richard Towers.

Croft insisted he had been told in no official capacity that they would be relegated, or that they had an ungraded ground.

Ironically, the ungraded Crabtree Park has been used to host a Division 2 Cup semi-final in the season just finished and hosted the Division 2 Cup final the season before.

Croft intends to take legal action, if needed, to ensure they keep their place in the top division.

He said: “I have never known in the history of football anyone get relegated due to their facilities.

“To come sixth from bottom and teams below you in the relegation zone not to go down is making the league a laughing stock.

“All the work is done now. The seats are in, the bell has gone up in the changing rooms, we have put the protection around the turnstiles. All there is to do is put a gate in, which is made and ready.

“We are going to appeal and do it properly. We won’t be messing about as I feel we have been picked on.

“At no time has anyone directly emailed me, chairman of Wick Football Club, to say we were ungraded and unless we had work done by a certain time we would be demoted.

“Not once in an official capacity have I been told that. I have had a few people at games mention things, which isn’t good enough, as no one has directly and officially told me.

“It will be a solicitors job. We won’t be rolling over on this. I am really disappointed, not particularly with the County League, as they are saying it’s The FA’s rules.”

The club had been in limbo due to development work taking place at one end of the ground. It was possible that the pitch may have had to be moved by up to 14 metres and Croft did not want to do all the ground grading work and then have to move it all again, which would have wasted the club’s limited funds.

Although the pitch will now not need to be moved, Croft says a letter was sent to the league regarding the possible work but was told the letter was sent to the wrong person.

Any Wick appeal w has to be concluded by the league’s AGM when the constitution is made, which takes place at the end of June. If it is not, they will be relegated.

The club were due for a ground assessment visit yesterday (Wedne-sday) afternoon and Croft was confident they would have received the appropriate grade.

County League secretary Paul Beard said: “It’s the club’s right to launch an appeal and they know the routes they must take. I personally have my doubts as all club’s were told by the FA what would happen and that they must have must have a grade by March 31.

“They are having another inspection and grading visit this week, but it is a month too late.”

Wick could yet be saved if Horsham YMCA get a reprieve in the Ryman League due to other club’s possibly going out of business and this would mean Clymping would also remain in Division 2.

The FA’s leagues and clubs’ manager, Mike Appleby, confirmed their records show that Wick were not awarded the relevant grade on recommendation from the Sussex County League’s grading officer.

He said: “Gradings at steps five and six of the National League System are the responsibility of the leagues themselves. They merely refer their findings to the FA for confirmation.

“The FA are not involved in the grading process. The club should refer the matter to their own league. It is contained in league rules that if a club does not meet the required grading then they may be relegated, that is for the league to determine, not the FA.”

He added: “If the club wish to appeal to the FA then, of course, they are entitled to do so.”

Despite the ongoing issues, Towers, who has had a year out after leaving Arundel at the end of last season, has taken the helm at Wick.

He said: “I am looking forward to it. I have missed it, to be honest. I have been watching a few games but there is nothing like being involved.

“I am hoping to get a decent squad together and looking to build the club back up. It has had success in the past and, hopefully, we can get that going again.”

Croft added: “I am delighted to have Richard on board. He would love us to be in Division 1 but he is happy to start in whichever division we end up in and build the club up.”

Jimmy Quigg will be Towers’ assistant.

On his departure, Block said: “I had a lot of good times at Wick, with Keith, his brother and a few others. There are lots of nice people there but, unfortunately, not enough.

“Rich is a good move for them and, hopefully, he will do well. I wish them all the best and hope it works out as they deserve it.”