Dave Richards

Wem Town manager Dave Richards insists his squad will not travel to play in the Shropshire Challenge Cup final if any of his players are forced to miss the game because they can’t get Monday night off work.

“It’s the first time that Wem have been in the final and it means a massive amount to the lads,” said Richards, in the light of the short notice of the game given to them by Shropshire FA.

The West Midlands League division one outfit are due to take on red hot favourites Market Drayton at Shrewsbury Town but only found out about the arrangements earlier this week.

“We wanted to organise it properly and all the players wanted family and friends there to watch.

“To give us a week’s notice is embarrassing.”

“We will discuss it tomorrow (at a club committee meeting) and see what we do — but I’m not going to leave any players behind.

“The lads have been brilliant in booking days off work and juggling shifts about to make games.

“It’s not fair for any of them to miss out on the biggest game in the club’s history because they haven’t been given enough notice to get the night off work.”

Richards revealed five senior players are due to work on Monday, while he would be a doubt for personal reasons and assistant boss Shaun Ingram would also miss the final.

And he insists he had originally been told the final will be staged at the end of the season.

“On March 10, the day after we beat Wellington Amateurs in the semi-final, we rang the Shropshire FA and asked to be given notice of when the final would be so lads could get the time off,” he added.

“We were told the final wouldn’t be until Shrewsbury had finished their League programme.”

Drayton are gearing up for two finals after replacing AFC Telford in the Shropshire Senior Cup final.

The Bucks claim they were expelled after refusing to play an April final because of their Blue Square North promotion push.

Shrewsbury have agreed to field a side in the game, which, after protracted talks with the Shropshire FA, will now take place on Wednesday, April 27 at the Greenhous Meadow.

By JAMES GARRISON