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Under fire is Brewers chairman Sam Brassington, who is accused by Gresley vice-chairman Dennis Everett of failing to fulfil a cash pledge to the South Derbyshire club.

The row centres on compensation promised Gresley by Brassington after former coach Steve Dolby switched clubs last month.

Said Everett: “Sam went on record as saying there would be something for Gresley after Steve’s move. And he repeated the offer when Burton came in with a bid for our player Richard Denby. He said if we could set up a deal he would have two cheques for us – one for Denby and one for Dolby.

“We didn’t want Richard to go and that fell through – since when we’ve heard nothing at all further about the Dolby compensation. It’s not the money that’s the problem – it’s the principle of the issue. Gresley are being treated as the poor relation again. I can tell Sam this – if the boot was on the other foot Gresley would have paid up straight away.”

Brassington, however, accused Everett of “turning the matter into a bit of rancour.” He continued: “I was going to take the cheque to a recent midweek game at Gresley, but eventually was unable to go because I was involved in an important transfer negotiations on that particular night. If Gresley are that peeved about it, they’ve nothing to worry about. I’ll put the cheque in the post.

“I’m a man of my word, even though I don’t need to pay Gresley Rovers a penny piece. I made the offer in the interests of harmony between the clubs, but to be honest we’re feeling a little aggrieved ourselves over some of the comments made by their manager Frank Northwood.”