Rangers won't ground Northwich

Stafford Rangers today revealed they are ready to release Northwich Victoria from an agreement to groundshare at Marston Road next season.

Northwich have been without a permanent home since being evicted from their Victoria Ground in January and asked Rangers for help.

The Vics had to have a groundshare for the following season in place by March 31 or be kicked out of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League.

Rangers stepped in at the 11th hour but the league expelled them from their pyramid for failing to comply to a Company Voluntary Agreement.

After appealing to the Football Association, Northwich were reinstated but only to Evo-Stik NPL Division One South, a demotion of one division.

And they could have to honour their agreement to play at Marston Road - over 40 miles from Northwich - if they can't find a ground closer to home.

But, if they can, Rangers chairman Mike Hughes insists his club would try not to put obstacles in Northwich's way.

Hughes said: "It's all in limbo at the moment but, as far as we are concerned, they have our blessing to go somewhere else.

"Yes, we have this agreement but I have told the league that we wouldn't hold them to it or demand compensation.

"If they can't find anywhere else or the league won't let them, we will honour the agreement and it's still in place.

"We entered the agreement in good faith to help a club we known for many years, who are older than our own club.

"But we are certainly not going to cancel that, it's up to them, so the ball is in Northwich's court."

Northwich have already seen plans to play at Skelmersdale and Warrington fall through but have approached other neighbouring teams.

And Hughes admitted it could be "unworkable" for them to operate as a club from Marston Road next season.

He said: "The distance, for them, is too far and it would put a real strain on them, the sensible thing would be to find somewhere closer.

"In common sense terms, it's unworkable for them, it would have brought extra income in for us but also extra expense.

"We haven't built it into our budgets and, as we have listened to what has been going on, none of their fans would come here anyway!"