Ford quit Furrows Shropshire Premier League
Shropshire's top bowls league has been rocked by yet another departure from its ranks.
Ford have pulled out of the Furrows Shropshire Premier League, despite having secured their future at the green beside Ye Olde Cross Gates for, at least, the next three years after a dispute with landlord Jake King.
The decision was taken at a players' meeting and in the light of three Premier League regulars from last season – Dave Ellis, Pete Griffiths and John Coxill – having left the team.
Bill Tarrel, the man who had been trying to raise a Premier side for 2013, confirmed: "It was just a question of personnel.
"There won't be enough players to to field two sensible sides on a Friday night and it was felt the Premier League team, not the Tanners Shropshire League team, was the one to go.
"You need a competitive side in the Premier League and this is a sensible decision due to the lack of adequate playing ability at the club's disposal.
"We didn't want to leave the Premier League in the dire situation it faced last year, with the late withdrawal of Childs Ercall. Hopefully, they will appreciate this early decision."
The Premier League's AGM is next Tuesday and secretary Mark Burroughs is discussing with fellow officers the options to fill the vacancy in what should be a 14-team division.
The league was hit by the resignation of Childs Ercall due to a shortage of players just two weeks before the start of the last campaign.
It meant the league was forced to run with 13 teams and scrap its relegation play-off match.
