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Rovers to sue?
Story courtesy of
Gresley Rovers have launched a legal battle for compensation following their rejection by the Beazer Homes League.
And the moves – announced today following the club’s third failure in consecutive seasons to gain promotion from the West Midlands League – could see the club go all the way to the High Court.The club development officer, Frank McArdle, issued a statement this morning concerning details of the planned legal action and declined to comment further.
However, I understand that Gresley officials consider they have been “led down the garden path” by the Beazer Homes League, having been given grounds to believe that the club would gain membership if it complied with certain conditions relating to the ground.
However, despite spending more than £60,000 on improvements in the last year – and convincingly winning the West Midlands League – Gresley are still considered unworthy of membership, with the Beazer Homes League stating for the first time in their latest refusal that the club’s “geographical position” was such that it could never hope for promotion.
McArdle said this morning: “I have instructed the club’s solicitors to inform the Beazer Homes League that they have been authorised to take whatever action is necessary to redress the injustice that, in the club’s opinion, has arisen from their treatment not only over their latest application but over the last three years.
“The amount of investment by the club during that period may ultimately result in action in the High Court. Therefore it is prudent for the club to take the opinion of a leading barrister at this stage should it unfortunately come to that state of affairs.
“It is not the club’s intention to be in dispute with the Football Association – indeed, Gresley have received letter of support from all quarters including the FA both locally and nationally.
“The club feels it owes it to its supporters, who themselves have invested in Gresley Rovers over the past few seasons, to do all in its power to bring what they believe is a blatant injustice to the notice of the authorities.
“The action contemplated may involve an action for damages.”
McArdle declined to say whether the action was an indication that Rovers still sought membership of the Beazer Homes League, saying: “I am not a committee member and that side of things is not in my brief.”
Club chairman Peter Hall said today that the club planned to issue a statement within the next week on its plans for next season.
