Rushden & Diamonds have been denied entry to the
Evo-Stik Southern Premier.
The Northamptonshire side were expelled from the Conference earlier in
the summer for financial reasons.
The Diamonds have now also failed to satisfy Southern Premier officials of
their ability to compete in their competition next season.
In a statement the
league said the club had "failed to meet the conditions for entry into the
league by the due date of 6 July".
The blow is the latest in a series of crippling events for the Diamonds who,
after being ejected from the Conference, were put into administration on Wednesday
Comments
A group of Rushden & Diamonds fans have taken steps to
make a "phoenix club" to replace the extinction-threatened side.
Adminstrators have been appointed to
distribute the Diamonds' assets ahead of their impending liquidation.
The new team would be called AFC Rushden & Diamonds and have opened up
trials for youth players.
Jon Ward, one of the supporters leading the project, told
BBC Radio Northampton: "It'd be something to watch mid-week and momentum for
2012."
The group are holding youth trials with a view to entering into the Northants
Senior Youth League for the 2011/12 campaign.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds then aim to launch a senior side a year later.
"We have met with the Senior Youth League and they have got to check it with
the members," added Ward.
"But they said they don't see any reason why we wouldn't be accepted.
"We are getting registered with Northamptonshire FA and working with
Supporters Direct to get us constitutionalised.
"We're a group of fans, not used to running or setting up football club, and
we're finding obstacles.
"But it's certainly exciting. A lot of fans want to look to the future and
draw a line under the past."
Fans' group SaveRDFC have backed the launch of a phoenix club, wholly owned
by the supporters, since June.
After Rushden & Diamonds FC were expelled from the
Conference, the professional side entered
administration on Wednesday.
Before administrators were appointed the crisis club had applied for entry
to the Evo-Stick Southern Premier, which was denied.
The open trials for AFC Rushden & Diamonds are being held on Tuesday 12
July at Raunds Manor School from 1945 BST, and at Raunds Town FC on Saturday 16
July from 1000 BST
Kettering Town have finalised a "heads
of agreement" with the landlord of Nene
Park to use the ground next season.
The
arrangement is not binding, but the
club have instructed solicitors to start drawing
up a
lease to play
at Rushden &
Diamonds' home.
Town have written to the Football
Conference requesting that up to five league matches a season can remain at their
current Rockingham Road home.
They will also keep youth games there
until the lease ends in 2013.
Landlord Keith Cousins repossessed
the ground two weeks ago.
The Diamonds are fighting a
winding-up petition, with a hearing adjourned until Monday, 4
July
and
are
appealing against the Conference's decision to
expel them from the league.
Kettering chairman Imraan Ladak has said the majority of
their fans have backed the move to the
home of
their rivals.
He told BBC Radio Northampton
earlier in June: "I don't know
whether we can agree a sustainable
deal at Nene Park.
If I remember, the Doc Martens state of the art factory is/was next door to the ground, as you say, in a one horse Northants town. DMs are now made in Vietnam or somewhere out east, and I don't mean Basildon.
When Max Griggs, the R&D and Doc Martens owner lost a lot of money as DMs went out of fashion, both the football club and the DM brand went to pot.
Same old story. A little club suddenly given cash and when the cash runs out the debts still hung around.
I have worn and owned doc martens boots for the last 30yrs but must say the quality has suffered since they moved it abroad. Shame as they seem to be having a bit of a revival with the kids.
Further background details here, for those interested http://www.poppiesfans.com/2011/06/kettering-could-be-headed-for-nene-park/
And
http://www.ketteringtownfc.co.uk/story.php?story_id=792
http://www.poppynet.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11147