Forest Green In Unexpected Reprieve
When Northwich Victoria’s new Victoria Stadium passed inspection last week, it appeared to confirm Forest Green Rovers relegation from the Conference National. However, the story took a dramatic and unexpected twist on Thursday.When Northwich Victoria’s new Victoria Stadium passed inspection last week, it appeared to confirm Forest Green Rovers relegation from the Conference National. However, the story took a dramatic and unexpected twist on Thursday.
The Vics left the Drill Field ground - their home for 127 years and one of the oldest football grounds in Britain - in 2002 and shared with neighbours Witton Albion.
Although far from complete, the local authorities issued the required Safety Certificate for the new ground last Friday. The Conference inspection also confirmed that it complied with the rules, and that Northwich could take their place in the Nationwide Conference next season.
Just as Forest Green Rovers last chance of avoiding relegation appeared to have disappeared, the Conference made the surprise announcement that it’s the Northwich club that is not compliant with the rules. The likely result is they will take Forest Green’s relegation slot and be demoted to the Conference North, at least.
When the Vics went into administration last season, the club transferred itself into a new limited company, Northwich Victoria (2004) Ltd. The lease on the ground is owned by this new company. However, it is the old company that remains members of the Nationwide Conference, and it has now been revealed that the transfer of membership had not been completed by 31 May.
The Conference’s official statement reads:
The Nationwide Conference have today notified Northwich Victoria FC Ltd (in administration) that they have failed to comply with the requirements to remain in the Conference Premier Division by the agreed deadline. The Club should originally have obtained a grading certificate for their new ground by 1st April 2005. By concession the Club were given until midnight on 31st May 2005 to comply on ground and club ownership status and it is understood that, although the ground was acceptable, the existing club in membership of The Football Conference, Northwich Victoria Ltd (in administration) did not have any security of tenure over the ground and as such could not be accepted into membership. The Club had intended to transfer its membership in the Football Conference to a new company, Northwich Victoria (2004) Ltd, formed for that purpose, but the FA have now informed The Football Conference that they have not been able to approve the transfer by 31st May 2005 as all their financial pre-conditions had not been met.
A Conference spokesperson said “Every possible assistance was given by ourselves and the FA to Northwich to comply by the 31st May deadline, including significant correspondence with the lawyers of the administrators and lawyers for Northwich (2004) Ltd. The Conference left all concerned in absolutely no doubt whatsoever what was required to be in place by 31st May 2005. Whilst the ground work was acceptable, the transfer of membership had not been completed and no lease was in place in accordance with the Rules of the Football Association and The Football Conference to the existing member of The Football Conference, Northwich Victoria Football Club Ltd (in administration). The only lease in existence was granted to Northwich Victoria (2004) Ltd whose membership had not, by the relevant date, been approved by the Football Association.”
The Football Conference have had no alternative but to implement their Rules and have advised Northwich Victoria Football Club Ltd (in administration) of their right of appeal to The Football Association pursuant to those Rules.
Speaking shortly after the announcement, Vics spokesman Peter Grimes said: “At the time of writing it is not known where the club will be relegated to, although one hopes it will be to Conference North. One can only speculate what the impact on the team and the management will be and it will probably take some time before the picture becomes clearer.”
Northwich have a right of appeal through the company that went into administration last year but it looks unlikely that they will avoid the drop.
The news comes after the Vics had overcome a 10-point penalty imposed last season to climb out of the bottom-three.
Formal confirmation of the make-up of the Conference will be made at the AGM on 11 June.