GRAYS Athletic have reacted with extreme anger to the news that they are set to be demoted four leagues down.
As reported yesterday, the FA have not placed Grays in either the Ryman Premier or the Ryman Div One North but have gone down to the Essex Senior League.
The demotion completes the humiliation for the club who only four short years ago won the FA Trophy and were vying for league status.
With no ground and now a lowly league status there are fears that this could mean the end of the club in it’s present form.
The outpourings have spilt onto the clubs forum where senior members of the club have made a number of highly “emotional” comments regarding the football authorities.
The club issued a strongly worded statement on their website yesterday (monday).
“The club are shocked to have found out via our own website that we have not been accepted into the Ryman setup.
It’s a total tuck up and a proper liberty what has gone on here.
They refused us on 3 accounts:-
1) The application was not in by the 1st April in accordance with rule 5.2
We asked them why they never told us straight away and the reply was “That’s a fair point” Mike Appleby doesnt think we fall into this as we are seeking Voluntary relegation not moving league which would have put us out of time.
2) The Committee is of the opinion when we withdrew from the conference we had withdrawn from The National league System totally
Their opinion isnt fact so its Irrelevant
3) No confirmation of a home ground for next season.
This is a total lie The club ,Mickey Woodward, Benny Bennett and John Coventry of East Thurrock have spoken to Bruce Badcock and Mr Robinson at the Ryman league about ground ground sharing and Mr Badcock had confirmed that he had received the relevant documentation and at no time had they told us there was any problems with applications, timmings and anything else to do with the application.
The outgoing owner Mike Woodward spoke to the Ryman Chairman to let him know he has nothing to do with the club anymore and to look fairly on the new ownership and it was agreed there was no problems between the Ryman league and Mike Woodward or Grays Athletic
Andy Swallow spoke to Mike Appleby a few moments ago and Mr Appleby who heads the league committee is of the opininon that the league have got it wrong.
We are not asking to move leagues we are asking for voluntary relegation.
Mr Appleby is wiling to be a witness for us with our appeal if needs be to the European Court of Appeal and beyond as its a total liberty that a lot of time and money has be spent to be treated like this.
We also have numerous witnesses that will help us get ther truth out
Andy has stated that regardless of what league we get put into we will still play as Grays Athletic and will not be driven out by this discraceful treatment of our club and we will leave no stone unturned until we get proper justice and is this now time for us to reform as Grays 1890 and start again.”
