‘Injustice!’ – Fans petition as Leatherhead fume at being denied reprieve from relegation

Fans have took to launch a petition as Leatherhead fume at being denied a reprieve from relegation due to Walton Casuals folding.

Merthyr Town were reprieved to step 3 of non league over Leatherhead after Walton Casuals folded despite having lower points per game (PPG). In November, the FA changed step 3 rulings to reprievals for four teams across step 3 rather than three teams being relegated from each league.

Unfairly Leatherhead were not offered the reprieval and Merthyr were placed back to step 3 despite being relegated with no chance of a reprieve.

Leatherhead’s manager Luke Tuffs has openly voiced his anger at the decision, saying the club were preparing in case they were put into the Southern League.

Fans have started an online petition: https://www.change.org/p/reprieve-leatherhead-of-their-step-3-status-and-the-fa-make-a-statement-for-their-decision

CLUB STATEMENT:

A message to our supporters.

Firstly, once again we would like to extend our sincere condolences to Walton Casuals, their staff, players and supporters following their recent announcement. It is extremely sad to see a local well established club disappear from the non league scene. This highlights how difficult it has been over recent years to ensure that we have a club that continues to be sustainable, for that we thank our staff, fantastic fans along with many hard working volunteers at the club. The incredible gate numbers we saw last season at Fetcham Grove considering our league position only reinforces just how important football is in the local community and the sense of togetherness it can bring to that community.

Secondly, we have no doubt that many of you will have seen the recent announcement that Merthyr Town were granted a reprieve from relegation following the announcement from Walton Casuals.

Like many of our fans, and for that matter many fans of other clubs judging by the messages we have received of support, we have been left bewildered by this decision.

Our management team and players fought tremendously hard towards the back end of the season and almost pulled off what we thought was the impossible task of keeping our step three status. To lose our step three status was a bitter pill to swallow, but one we accepted as the new “Points Per Game” [PPG] rule was introduced at the start of the season.

We fully understood being in the bottom two would see us automatically relegated, but knew that if we finished 20th we could still have a chance of survival. Ultimately, it ended up between us and Kings Langley on a dramatic final day which saw a Kings Langley win enabling them to retain their step three status at our expense.

For clarity, Merthyr Town finished the season in the relegation zone of the Southern League Premier Division on 26 points as shown below.

Position Played GD Points
20 – Kings Langley 42 – 19 37
R – Merthyr Town 42 – 47 26
R – Wimbourne Town 42 – 71 19

Where as we finished the season in 20th place but were relegated under the new “Points per game” rule as shown below on the dramatic final game of the season.

Position Played GD Points
20 – Leatherhead 42 – 40 36
R – East Thurrock Utd 42 – 54 35
R – Merstham 42 – 41 33

We can confirm to our supporters that to date we have had no correspondence or consultation from either the League or the FA regarding this decision. All we know is what we are hearing and reading on social media sites. We understand, according to some social outlets, that giving us a reprieve back into the Isthmian Premiers Division would have caused some disruption, meaning other clubs may have to leave their respective leagues.

They may have assumed that in order for us to maintain our step three status we would not have wanted to replace Walton Casuals in the Southern Premier league which would have been the less disruptive decision. Again for clarity, we have not even been given the opportunity to consider this as an option as we have had no conversations to date with the League or The FA regarding their decision.

Of course we are very disappointed with this decision and we will begin the process of seeking full clarity from those responsible for making the decision.

We will of course keep all of our supporters informed of any findings.

In the meantime, we would once again like to thank all of our supporters for their continued support.

#standwiththehead

Leatherhead boss Luke Tuffs said on Walton Casuals’ demise: “So sad to see a club that meant so much to so many people cease to exist.

“A lot of very good people there that have worked so hard to keep the club going for a very long time taking it all the way from the combined counties. A real loss to local football.”

Then when seeing Merthyr’s statement on getting a reprieve, he added: “How is this right? We finished outside our automatic relegation spots and finished above Merthyr.

“We went down as our PPG was 1 below Kings Langley, also in their League. @fa @SouthernLeague1 are you sure??”

This is what the @IsthmianLeague actually said. Their own words. Yet now that’s not the case. Moving the goalposts after the game has finished @SouthernLeague1 🤨😳 pic.twitter.com/IOrezfpDCH

— Luke Tuffs (@luketuffs) June 10, 2022

Maybe we could have gone SL? We are 15 minutes from Walton Casuals. Could maybe have asked us?

— Luke Tuffs (@luketuffs) June 10, 2022

Yes, fair, but that’s not what the FA said very publicly before, during, and at the end of the season. Hence the moan up 😂

— Luke Tuffs (@luketuffs) June 10, 2022

Twitter users while fans petition and Leatherhead fume at being denied a reprieve from relegation…

@Woody65596415: We need the FA and league to see some sense!!!!

@Tanner1962: No we need them to apply the rules they introduced and also to consult and communicate with the club something they haven’t done so far. Whoever ‘they’ is… #standwiththetanners

@AndrewH64528423: As the statement says, the #fa applied the PPG at the beginning of the season, they need to stand by those rules. Leatherhead need to get a reprieve, if that means the #southernleague1 then so be it. Justice needs to be served #standwiththetanners

@RobNorwood6: Good luck finding someone willing to take responsibility for making the decision. You’d have more luck finding Lord Lucan. Shameful lack of communication – shameful but sadly not surprising. Best of luck.

@TrevB58: In simple terms, Merthyr finished in an automatic relegation slot, and Leatherhead didn’t. How hard can it be 🤷‍♂️

@dupebalogun: May help that @MerthyrTownFC Chairman seems to be one of the “big guys” at the same League that have cancelled their relegation 🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 #ConflictOfinterest?

@cvhdavidblues: No communication at all is pitiful. As I’ve said elsewhere I’d assumed that if Merthyr got the reprieve it was because Tanners had been consulted, considered the SL and then declined politely as opposed to a committee room/blazer stitch up.

@UpperBeedingFC: Shocking. What a mess.

@trevk37: Standard tho isn’t it, just what we expect

@GaryPascoe04: This would be a great chance to get rid of the reprieve system, I’m not a fan, I still can’t understand why leagues can’t play with an odd number.

@GaryLomas17: Stop moaning take you’re relegation on the chin and get on with it, who cares who gets the reprieve.

@MRietschy: Yeah of course who cares if you’re relegated when you shouldn’t have been anyway!

@Richard38451315: An appalling decision once again from the FA/Southern League

@Love_non_league: They deserve an explanation surely…..especially when they say they would have moved leagues…. start the debate…..

@KayleeJS: Just can’t get my head around this decision from the FA. Hope @LeatherheadFC take it all the way…

@sms050505: Just cannot believe this @FA restore our faith and do the right thing – it’s not rocket science and you have a moral duty if we are to remain having faith in @FA. Or explain why to all of us asking wtf 🤔🤞 🙏🤷‍♀️ @LeatherheadFC

@ACTaylor96: Definite injustice here.

@Danielh3960: Scandalous @FA

@eweteabee: good statement on a ridiculous decision. relegating leatherhead on ppg while merthyr are reprieved on ten less points is unfair. #standwiththehead

@tomrichards10: Shocking yet not surprising at all

Absolutely Steve. We’re not just going to let this go away, no matter how inconvenient for certain people. Justice is all we want.

— David Pope (@Tanner1962) June 12, 2022