Pic; ELL

Controversy has arisen over an apparent resignation by Croydon Athletic FC from the Ryman Isthmian League after the club posted an official statement on their website confirming their withdrawal. The club has had many well-publicised problems and were handed a £7,500 fine and had points deducted before Christmas,  after an independent regulatory commission by the Football Association found financial irregularities breaching rules relating to payment to players in the 2009-10 season.  They have not played in the league since December 3, 2011.

However the secretary of the Ryman league told EastLondonLines they had not received notification of any such decision by the club.

Nick Robinson, secretary, said: “We have had no official statement. No club can resign from the league during the season, [they] could only apply for resignation at the end of the current season.”

He reiterated that the club still have until Friday’s deadline to come up with a viable plan of how they will stay in the league, and that the board would work with them once they had received the plan, which makes the club’s statement even more of a surprise.

He also stressed that despite Croydon Athletics’ announcement, nothing will be decided by the league until the board has discussed the decision at the proposed board meeting on January 26.

Problems  started back in 2009 when the then owner, Mazhar Majeed, was convicted over corruption charges in the cricket match-fixing scandal.

Despite many attempts, none of the clubs representatives were available for comment.