KENT LEAGUE chief Denise Richmond has
confirmed that Faversham Town WILL be promoted.
The Salters Lane club jumped to the head of the queue when Kent
County League Premier Division champions Lewisham Borough failed to
meet the necessary criteria for Step Five of the football pyramid.
And Town - who finished runners-up to Borough - have now been told
that their bid is being backed after a successful final ground
grading on Tuesday last week.
Ms Richmond, who is chair of the Kent League, revealed that Town's
promotion would be rubber-stamped by the member clubs at their
annual general meeting next month.
She explained: "We are very pleased that Faversham Town have
not only finished in a position for promotion but have also
completed the ground improvements that were required to compete in
the Kent League next season.
"Faversham Town will be invited to attend the Kent League AGM
on the 21st June at which where they will have their promotion to
the league confirmed."
Town chief executive John Webb revealed: "I received a letter
from the Kent League last week saying that Salters Lane had been
passed fit for the Kent League.
"It is now down to the clubs who will vote at the agm but we
are thrilled to learn that our many friends from around the county
are supporting our application which is great news."
Webb reiterated his sympathy for Lewisham Borough whose late bid for
promotion was rejected by Kent League chiefs.
He said: "As I've said many
times before, we don't make the rules. We always knew the champions
would take precedence but it appears that Lewisham were not quite
ready for the step up.
"In all honesty, that is understandable. We know only too well
how difficult it is to gear a club for promotion. There are so many
things you have to take into consideration.
"We would have loved to have gone up as champions but we feel
no shame in accepting a place in the Kent League having finished
runners-up."
Webb revealed that Town had planned to TURN DOWN a place in the Kent
League had they finished outside the top two.
He revealed: "There has been a lot of talk about our facilities
and how we were always going to win promotion but that is a lot of
nonsense.
"It's true that teams have gone up in the past having finished
outside the top two. I believe Maidstone went up when finishing
third while Lordswood were fifth and still went up.
"However, we were not looking for anyone to bend the rules. If
we'd finished third, there are people on our committee who were
determined that we would stay put.
"That is a measure of the respect we hold for the rules. As it
is we look forward to making the step up in accordance with those
rules. These are exciting times for everyone at Faversham
Town."
