Switch from Stafford to Flixton is unlikely (From Northwich Guardian)
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Northwich Victoria have hurdles to overcome to secure a switch from Stafford to Flixton
6:16pm Friday 1st June 2012 in Sport
Exclusive By Andrew Simpson, Senior Sports Writer
Switch from Stafford to Flixton is unlikely
VICS’ hopes of making a pitch in Manchester a temporary home for the next two seasons have suffered a setback.
The club announced on Wednesday that it had asked the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League to consider a switch from Stafford, with whom Northwich have a ground share agreement, to Flixton.
But league bosses, who kicked out the club in April only for their preferred punishment for breaking finance rules to be reduced on appeal, have refused.
“Stafford continues to be the sole designated home ground for all Northwich fixtures next season,” said a spokesman.
“We have nothing to add to previous statements on this matter.”
The Northern Premier League told the Guardian a fortnight ago that its rules on security of tenure were clear; plans had to be in place, and approved, by March 31.
Vics, after a proposal fell through to play more than 30 miles away at Skelmersdale United’s West Lancashire College Stadium, reached an agreement with Rangers in the nick of time.
In a statement released on Wednesday night, the club said: “Logistically it is more convenient to play at Flixton, which is just 16 miles away from the Victoria Stadium.
“Also, it would be commercially better.”
The Guardian has contacted Flixton for a comment, but to date has not had a reply.
The Valley Road-based club announced earlier this year that it was considering a move away from the North West Counties League to a competition with more derbies.
Its final decision may not be made public until that competition’s annual meeting later this month, but the Guardian understands that the club’s plan to resign is unchanged.
“I think we should play in a bigger league that has more teams with a Manchester post code,” said chairman Lenny Woods in March.
An FA spokesman has confirmed that Flixton’s home ground is not fit, at least at the moment, to host Northern Premier League games.
“Valley Road has an F certificate which means teams can play Step 5 [or below] matches there,” he said.
It is not known how much work needs to be done, or how much it would cost, to bring the facilities up to the required standard for a Division One South encounter.
That leaves Northwich, who could not conclude a deal with Cheshire neighbours Warrington, likely to start the new season at Marston Road.
However Stafford chairman Mike Hughes said this week that he fears for Vics’ future if they cannot negotiate an alternative.
“The sensible thing would be to find somewhere closer,” he told the Express and Star.
“The distance for them [to come here] is too far and would put a strain on the club.
“In common sense terms, it’s unworkable.”
Comments(16)
jamo
says...
9:30pm Sun 3 Jun 12
WHS wrote:You have an unhealthy obsession with Vics, still got an inferiority complex? even now?...
Unworkable? Surely not? Mr. Rushe is a miracle worker, he will have Vics in the Champions League inside ten years. Of course that depends on people continuing to give him money for his "hair-brained" schemes. Who knew that playing at Stafford might be a bit of a problem?
WHS.
THETELLEROFTALES
says...
7:06pm Mon 4 Jun 12
No ground.
Mega debt.
3 players on the books.
It is not humanly possible to have an inferiority complex to that 'mess.'.....
For one minute I thought this article was referring to a football team!
WHS
says...
10:42am Tue 5 Jun 12
WHS.
jamo
says...
2:11pm Tue 5 Jun 12
THETELLEROFTALES wrote:you are obsessed with us. end of. Follow your own teams fortunes sat on your backside on the net in york.
Jamo....time to focus.
No ground.
Mega debt.
3 players on the books.
It is not humanly possible to have an inferiority complex to that 'mess.'.....
For one minute I thought this article was referring to a football team!
Genuine fan
says...
7:44pm Tue 5 Jun 12
jamo
says...
3:07pm Wed 6 Jun 12
THETELLEROFTALES
says...
8:10am Thu 7 Jun 12
I would really like both Witton and Vics to be in the Blue Square Conference, attracting gates of 1000-1500 every home game with the added bonus of 2 derby games per season. This would benefit both football clubs and also benefit junior football in the area. It would in addition put Northwich back on the footballing map.
However, following the press reports of the demise of the Vics is like watching a serious accident occur in slow motion. I am completely baffled at the silence from Vics fans. Where is the fight? Where is the recognition that things have gone seriously wrong, where are the howls of protest at the way the club has been run and continues to be managed?
All I have read is that some supporters would prefer to watch Airbus UK rather than support football in their immediate area, or that supporters are meeting with the owner for 'talks.' Interesting that don't you think.
This newspaper offers you the perfect forum for your protests and you are not using it....all you seem to want to do is criticise Wittoners who do use this forum.
Vics are in a mess....WHAT ARE YOU JAMO GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
It's this that truly fascinates me.
jamo
says...
12:46pm Thu 7 Jun 12
What are you going to do about it sat on your backside in york??
THETELLEROFTALES
says...
5:25pm Thu 7 Jun 12
You couldn't be more wrong.
Just answer my question....
jamo
says...
2:57pm Fri 8 Jun 12
I will get behind my team, what are you going to do , moan & bleat till the cows come home?
THETELLEROFTALES
says...
8:16pm Fri 8 Jun 12
a moth to a flame.
How sad that you have to resort to being rude.
Jim Budden
says...
4:33pm Wed 13 Jun 12
Hi, I have been out of circulation for a while through ill health, and quite frankly ignore all who are only interested in taking the michael.
Like ToT and one or two others.
I will be a Vics supporter forever but as sorry as I am to say it we have a lost cause. The Evostik or Northern Premier have nailed Northwich Victoria to the wall.
They have decided that they will not let them play anywhere else but the Southern section of the Evostik league. They don't want them in their league full stop, and in their eyes this is the best way of putting them out of business. I wait to see what happens next
Jimmy Budden
jamo
says...
5:39pm Wed 13 Jun 12
Jim Budden wrote:Correct JB, Vics not innocent but the league have deffo got it in for us come what may.
JB
Hi, I have been out of circulation for a while through ill health, and quite frankly ignore all who are only interested in taking the michael.
Like ToT and one or two others.
I will be a Vics supporter forever but as sorry as I am to say it we have a lost cause. The Evostik or Northern Premier have nailed Northwich Victoria to the wall.
They have decided that they will not let them play anywhere else but the Southern section of the Evostik league. They don't want them in their league full stop, and in their eyes this is the best way of putting them out of business. I wait to see what happens next
Jimmy Budden
Vicsfan
says...
11:37pm Sun 17 Jun 12
Northwich as a town appears to be dying and like the football the politics have always been petty minded and parochial, no wonder its in a mess. The only way forward is for all parties to work together (both football and local politics) after all we all want the best for the town and its football- don't we? however too many people are only interested in petty point scoring. Some letters each week in the press are petty beyond belief at times, at least WHS has stopped his infatuation with Vics and local politics in the paper though!
jamo
says...
12:40pm Tue 19 Jun 12
Vicsfan wrote:Cant disagree with any of that mate
Whilst Vics have made many poor decisions over the years they have not been helped by many authorities including the local one. Petty minded bitter rivalry has been the cause of the demise of football in Northwich, many fans have moved on and found other interests sadly. It will be a long long time before vics and witton are attracting 1500 again and probably not in our life time.
Northwich as a town appears to be dying and like the football the politics have always been petty minded and parochial, no wonder its in a mess. The only way forward is for all parties to work together (both football and local politics) after all we all want the best for the town and its football- don't we? however too many people are only interested in petty point scoring. Some letters each week in the press are petty beyond belief at times, at least WHS has stopped his infatuation with Vics and local politics in the paper though!
WHS says...
4:11pm Sun 3 Jun 12
WHS.