Disappointment as Shotton Steel move from Division One North to Division Three North.
There was disappointment as Shotton Steel reluctantly confirmed with the WRU earlier today (Friday) that they would be withdrawing from Division One North and would play in Division Three North in this upcoming season.
Last week the club notified the WRU and NWRU of their difficulties and requested that they be allowed to drop down in to Division Two.
The club have issued the following statement:
‘We at Shotton Steel RFC have had a tough few weeks over the close season. We have spent a long time rebuilding our club and climbing the leagues. However over the last three seasons, despite the talent playing in our 1XV, our numbers have been in rapid decline as the 2XV have had 70% of their games cancelled by other clubs and this has resulted in an ever decreasing squad of players. Along with Tata closing our clubhouse and the issues with work and home life that all clubs are having, our squad has been massively depleted. We are particularly struggling in the front row. We have really struggled to bring new players in and keep our former youth and juniors involved.
We therefore have had no choice than to notify the WRU and NWRU of our intentions.
Last week Shotton Steel RFC sent this letter to WRU & NWRU:
WRU & NWRU,
It is with regret that we are notifying you of our intended withdrawal from Division One North for the forthcoming season. We would like the governing bodies concerned to allow us to stay in Div 2 North as we played last season.
The reason for this is are as follows: We have lost over 20 players since Christmas and 13 of our 1XV squad in the close season.; We currently have 25 players who intend to play this season in the whole senior section; 8 of our first team squad work shifts on alternate weekends; We have been able to attract just one new recruit; We struggle to attract any new players due to our ongoing problems with facilities.
We would rather drop out from the league now than make a mockery of the league and have to pull out mid season. If we were to do this, we may well be left with no club at all.
This decision has not been taken lightly and we have held numerous meetings within the club over the past month. We wanted to make the bodies concerned aware of this at the earliest opportunity so that fixtures can be adapted to allow a team to play in our place and allow us to stay in last season’s league. We feel we may be able to compete to a mid table level in Div 2 North.
Again, we at SSRFC have not taken this decision lightly and it is with great regret. We see it as the only way we may continue to exist 12 months from now.
Yours sincerely,
Paul Worrall, Secretary SSRFC
The club received a response from the WRU stating that they could either play in Division One North after gaining promotion last season or be relegated to Division Three North and that the club had until today, Friday, 3rd August, to confirm which option they had chosen.
The club were disappointed with this reply but felt that they had no other option than to play in Division Three North next season.
Alan Leamon, Shotton RFC, stated: ‘This decision grieves us as a district club with all the hard work that has been put in by the players and committee of Shotton Steel RFC. We were hoping that the WRU would be more understanding of our plight at Shotton, which has been totally out of our control, however we will continue to fulfil our fixtures in division 3 next season’.
I am sure that everybody in North Wales, and beyond, wish the club all the best for the future and hope that their fortunes will quickly improve.
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