Cheltenham League Meetings

CHELTENHAM ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Minutes of the Management Committee Meeting at the Victory Club Cheltenham on Wednesday 6th September 2006.

Attendees: G Cook, R Attwood , N Oram, L Fisher, J Hunt, T Onions, B Hill, M.Lytheer, P.Tustain.

Apologies: J Crowther, A.Stiley, R.Overington

Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 30th August 2006 were read and accepted

Matters Arising from the minutes.

An appeal had been received from Tivoli Rovers in relation to the fine imposed upon them at the meeting of August 30th. This appeal related to the fact that Tivoli Rovers had not received the request for Club Histories, because the email address supplied had been used incorrectly. The appeal was upheld and it was agreed that the appeal fee should be returned.

It was agreed that any other matters arising from the minutes should be dealt with at the next Management Committee meeting.

Appeal - Smiths Athletic

The background to the appeal that was being made by Smiths Athletic was relayed to the Committee. Smiths Athletic had held a committee meeting on Tuesday, 29th August at which the decision was taken not to register any players who had played in the clubs reserve side last season. This side had competed in Division Two of the Cheltenham League. As it was consequently believed that this decision would leave the club incapable of fielding 4 sides, it was further decided to withdraw a team from the Cheltenham League. This decision was communicated to the General Secretary of the League on the morning of Wednesday, August 30th, along with a request that the club be permitted to withdraw its Division Two side and continue with teams in the 3rd and 4th Divisions of the Cheltenham League, which would subsequently be known as Smiths Athletic Reserves and Smiths Athletic III.
At the League Management Committee Meeting held on Wednesday, 30th August, this matter was put to the Committee and the decision was taken that Smiths Athletic should be required to withdraw their 4th team from Division 4, leaving the club with two Cheltenham League sides, one in Division Two and the other in Division Three. This decision was reflected the Committee's opinion that it should be dealing with Smiths Athletic as a club and not a collection of teams. Concerns had also been expressed that Smiths Athletic might be able to strengthen their Division Three and Four sides with those players from the Division Two side who did re-register for the club for the forthcoming season.
The basis of Smiths Athletic's appeal was that all the players who had played in Division Two last season had left the club and that the club had no replacements of the same standard with whom to populate a side in Division Two. To substantiate this, the club had provided, in advance, a list of those players who had played in Division Two last season and emphasised the level of debt, to the club, that these players had allowed to accumulate during the course of the season. This list had been circulated to the Committee prior to the meeting & it was emphasised in the text that accompanied this list that none of these players would be registered by the club for this season. Mr Terry Onions, the League's Registration Secretary, was asked whether or not he concurred with the information that had been submitted by Smiths Athletic. In reply, Mr Onions stated that only two players not mentioned in the information provided by Smiths had played for the club's Division Two side last season and that both of these players had made only one appearance each. It was, therefore, acknowledged that the information provided by Smiths Athletic was an accurate reflection of the appearances made in their reserve side last season.

Smiths Athletic's Representatives were then invited to join the meeting. They identified themselves as John Tapp, the Vice-Chairman, Joe Webster, the Secretary and Kenny Edwards, the manager of the club's Division Three side. Mr Tapp informed the meeting that he was in attendance in the stead of the Club Chairman, who was unwell and apologised for his absence. Mr Webster informed the League that most of the players who had played for the Division Two side had made it known that they would now never register to play for Smiths again. He also highlighted the fact that, last season, their Division Three side had finished 6th and their Division Four side had finished 12th, which was the bottom position. It was emphasised that it was anticipated that the playing strength of the teams this season was expected to be similar and that to, effectively, promote each of these sides would leave them in a very vulnerable position in which they would be faced with the very real prospect of losing every single week. It was Smiths Athletic's belief that, under such circumstances, the players could become disenchanted to the point of no longer wanting to play and that this might lead to the club to being compelled to withdraw another side later in the season.
In response to a question from Mr Gordon Cook, the League Chairman, Mr Webster confirmed that there were representatives of all four teams on the club's committee and that each of the four sides had been represented at the meeting at which the decision was taken to withdraw a side from the Cheltenham League. Mr Webster mentioned that the club had been embarrassed by the behaviour of its reserve side at the Senior Charity Cup Final that was held at Whaddon Road in April. Numerous questions were then asked relating to the length of time that then elapsed before the club took action against this team and the players within it. Smiths Representatives acknowledged that, with the benefit of hindsight, they should have taken action earlier but stated that the belief persisted within the club that they could turn things around with the individuals within the second team. However, when their attendance at pre-season training became sporadic, they refused to socialise with the rest of the club and they were disrespectful to club officials, it became apparent that this belief was mistaken. Mr Edwards also stated that the club was very keen to maintain 4 sides if at all possible but that, in the final analysis, this just hadn't proved possible. Mr John Hunt, the Assistant Secretary, asked why the debts for this group of players had been allowed to get so high. In response, Mr Webster informed the meeting that, when fines came in from either the League or the GFA, the club paid them immediately and then attempted to recover the money from the player concerned, as appropriate. This had proven difficult with this group of players but, with fixtures to fulfil, the club was left in a position in which it was compelled to allow them to continue to play.
Mr Cook asked the club to give an assurance that none of the players whose names appeared on the list of Regular second team players from last season, as submitted by Smiths Athletic, would be registered by the club for the forthcoming season. Mr Webster gave such an assurance on behalf of the club and re-stated that most of the players concerned had stated that they would never sign on for Smiths again. He went on to point out that no players who were expected to play in the Northern Senior League were registered with the Cheltenham League and that the third team squad had a lot of younger players in it, most of whom would not be able to cope with life in Division Two at this stage, even though the club had high hopes for them in the future. He then reiterated the clubs desire to keep its remaining two Cheltenham League sides in Divisions Three and Four, as this would be commensurate with the playing strength of the club at this time.

The three representatives of Smiths Athletic then retired from the meeting whilst the Committee considered the matter of the appeal.

Following deliberation, the Committee was unanimous in its opinion that, in light of the evidence presented in support of the appeal and the details provided by the Registration Secretary, it was in the best interests of the competition that Smiths Athletic be allowed to withdraw their team from Division Two of the League and to continue with sides in Divisions Three and Four. Having made this decision, the three club representatives were recalled and informed that the appeal had been upheld. The Club's appeal fee was returned and Mr Webster thanked the committee for their time and diligence in considering this matter.

Belmore Jags Review

The General Secretary reminded the committee that, at the meeting held on Wednesday, 30th August, it had been noted, that, despite assurances that were personally issued by a club representative at the meeting of July 26th, Belmore Jags had failed to pay invoice 49 for £685.32. In addition, it had been noted that Belmore Jags had also failed to pay an invoice that covered the fines imposed at the meeting of July 26th and that Belmore Jags had incurred an additional £150 worth of fines at the meeting of August 30th. This left Belmore Jags owing the League in excess of £850, a significant proportion of which represented monies due for pitch hire. It had also been reported to the Committee by Mr Terry Onions, the League's Registration Secretary at the meeting of August 30th, that Belmore Jags had not registered any players at all for the forthcoming season by the date of the meeting.
In recognition of these facts, the committee had felt it necessary to confirm the suspension of Belmore Jags and to advise the club that this would not be reviewed until Wednesday, 6th September. In review, it was reported that Belmore Jags had discharged their debt to the League on the evening of Tuesday, 5th September when a representative of the club had visited the League's Treasurer in person and paid the whole amount in cash. The Secretary also informed the meeting that he had received a telephone call, on Thursday, 31st August, 2006, from Mr David Neale, Chief Executive of the GFA, in which it was confirmed that Belmore Jags were now affiliated to the GFA. Mr Terry Onions also confirmed that the club had submitted more than enough Registration forms to cover all three sides on Thursday, 31st August.

In light of this information, it was agreed unanimously that the suspension on Belmore Jags should be lifted with immediate effect and that the club would, therefore, be capable of fulfilling fixtures as from Thursday, 7th September, 2006. It was also unanimously agreed, however, that a severe warning should be issued to Belmore Jags with regard to the manner in which the club was administered and that a fine of £200 should be imposed upon the club, suspended until the end of the season, for gross maladministration. It was agreed that this fine should be invoked if there was any further evidence of gross maladministration during the course of the rest of the season.

Any Other Business:

The General Secretary read a letter to the Committee from Mr Dennis Barrett, the Patron of the League, in which Mr Barrett informed the League that he was about to undergo an eye operation that would leave him incapacitated for several days. Mr Barrett concluded his letter by articulating his hope that he would be able to attend the clubs meeting at the end of September, however.

Mr Les Fisher reported to the meeting that he had received a telephone call from a person claiming to be a player of Belmore Jags at 9.30 pm on Sunday, 3rd September. This person complained about the suspension placed on the club when all the players had been required to pay £20 to help clear the clubs debts. It was agreed that it should be re-emphasised to the clubs that only club officials should be contacting the League and that Officers of the League should not be contacted either after 9.00 pm or on a Sunday other than in emergencies.

NEXT MEETING - WEDNESDAY 27th SEPTEMBER, 2006

AT 7-15 PM