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Hednesford pull out of league after being dealt with huge blow – what are the knock on effects?

Hednesford Town sadly reveal that they are pull out of their league after being dealt with a huge blow – so what are the knock on effects?

The Pitmen had been members of the Southern League Premier Division Central, the seventh tier of English Football, playing their matches at the 6,039 capacity Keys Park.

Hednesford unfortunately confirmed late on the 26th of May 2023 that their takeover failed means they will not be able to play football in the coming season, and their future is now thrown into doubt.

Businessman Gary Hartland backed out of the purchase deal, and now the Staffordshire-based club is in a lot of trouble, but add they will exploring every option in order to ‘bid’ to return to football during the 2024-25 season.

CLUB STATEMENT:

It is with huge sadness that we write to confirm that the prospective new owner and chairman has withdrawn from the takeover late this afternoon.

Due to recent meetings with the League & the FA, the timing of this means that unfortunately, Hednesford Town FC will be unable to play in the 23/24 season.

All options will now be explored to try and ensure Hednesford Town FC can restart for the following season.

– STATEMENT ENDS –

Three months ago, it was confirmed that Graham Jones and Hayden Dando, the club’s chairman and vice chairman, were to step down at the end of the 2022/23 season.

Shortly after Hednesford revealed they had been rescued after Staffordshire businessman Gary Hartland agreed to buy the club and the freehold of their Keys Park home. But a lot of work still needed to be done. See more on that HERE.

So what happens now? Will there be reprieves or promotions? Although nothing has been confirmed yet, Twitter account Non League Maps have given their thoughts after being asked.

Southern league statement: “It is with deep sadness that the League has to report that Hednesford Town FC tendered its resignation from the League on Thursday 25th May 2023.”

“Despite being relegated at the end of the 2022/23 season, Hednesford Town were technically members of the Southern League until its AGM on June 17th. Discussions have been taking place recently in an attempt to assist in Hednesford Town FC being able to continue, but unfortunately this was not able to be achieved.”

As Hednesford pull out of league after being dealt with huge blow – we take a look at what are the knock on effects – and what have fans had to say? Take a look below…

@NonLeagueMaps: After the allocations and before the AGMs Reprieves &/or promotions are used in a way that doesn’t require laterally transferring other teams. To replace Hednesford the NPL West will likely reprieve Glossop. How they refill the Step 5 vacancy is more subjective on this occasion.

@georgecricfoot3: Sandbach to Midlands Prem and then move a NWC D1N side to the South to get both leagues on 18?

@NonLeagueMaps: They could do, Runcorn would welcome it, Droylsden possibly would also. Glossop seems obvious but as Steps 5 & 6 have variable numbers they could actually reprieve/promote elsewhere easier than they could last year. I’m not sure why @KeynshamTownFC were relegated from Step 5

@georgecricfoot3: Droylsden would be the obvious choice with the amount of G Manchester sides in that league. Seems like this could an opportunity for the FA to get themselves out of the whole they are in with the lateral movements to the Midlands league

@beeston_sports: Presumably a team that went down and there were 4 from that league we believe will now stay up

@NeilSmi18427195: Got to be @GlossopNorthEnd then.

@NonLeagueMaps: After the allocations and before the AGMs, any reprieves or additional promotions will be done to limit disruption elsewhere. I would normally expect this to start with a NPL West reprieve.

@NeilSmi18427195: Thanks. So that will be a @GlossopNorthEnd reprieve in my eyes. Will it trickle down and impact steps 5 and 6 with further reprieves?

@NonLeagueMaps: Depends how they get Step 5 back to 320 teams if Glossop are reprieved. Last season they promoted the local Step 6 defeated playoff finalists. That could indicate Sandbach (by PPG) or St Helens (as they’re the only team in the NWC footprint). This isn’t clear cut to me.

@bakes1970: Such sad news, spent many a happy day watching Hednesford when we were kids.

@Toothy1575: Absolutely gutted for the true people behind the scenes and the amazing supporters 😔 HTFC will rise again ⚽️

@kristaylor26: Such a shame got lots of great memories at that place. Goes to show if a non league club isn’t ran properly this happens.

@kaiserblue81: This makes me so sad. My great grandad played for hednesford before moving on to Derby and then Wrexham. His dad and uncle also started at hednesford and one of them went on to win the fa cup with villa. The Lyons brothers.

@KierenGuicey: Oh this isn’t good at all! So sad to see them not playing next season! Hope this gets resolved as soon as possible!

@Dave_Lawrence23: Such a shame … loved our interactions with HTFC last season; wishing all the players and staff the best of luck moving forward

@Kristian_Green: Smells a bit fishy. Back handers galore. Houses built on it next year. Crying shame, excellent club.

@Paul_725: Ground will be bulldozed for more houses, my sister lives on one of the new builds near by and it’s always been a great community club. These bad owners need jailing for what they do to teams like this.

@BenFarrall: grew up watching my uncle at keys park with some top players playing conference football and getting to the third round of the FA Cup. I also played youth team football here with some of the most talented players I’ve played with. really shit to see the club potentially finished!

@user34598: what an absolute shame. i played against a hednesford youth side a few years ago and the setup of the club is phenomenal. live a quick drive from the ground which is astonishing. really sad day for the whole of staffordshire non league football, hope it’s not the end for the club

@EllisDennantAV: Shocking. Sad day for the local area. Should never have got like this!

@steafctelford: Very sad for one of the better non league sides.😑

@kieranthebaggie: Really really sad to read this. Played in the youth setup at Hednesford as a kid. It’s a fantastic club and a real shame

@_TightWadBill: Absolutely devastated to see this tonight. A club I was heavily involved in at youth level up until the age of 16, and almost on my doorstep. I hope this can be sorted out as soon as possible, it would be heartbreaking to see it fold.

@vicki_26_11: No words. All I know is I have a heartbroken boy

@stewart_jones10: Gutted for all the clubs supporters, really hope they can get things resolved, and ensure Hednesford has a football team to continue to support 🙏

@Simon_wwfc: What an absolute shambles these buffoons have made of Hednesford Town. Incapable of what to choose for lunch, let alone run a football club.

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