Black Country Rangers report Wolves Sporting to FA following player exodus

The West Midlands League Premier Division outfit have seen a host of players depart with many heading to Sporting, who are managed by former Rangers boss Wayne Spicer.

That has angered Black Country bosses, who claim the Midland League Premier club have not followed FA rules and have now reported them to the authorities.

Current regulations, designed at preventing players from moving en masse, permit a maximum of two transactions between clubs during a season.

But it is claimed up to 12 have made the jump from Rangers to Sporting since Spicer left the former in November.

Sporting insist they have followed the rules correctly and are prepared to fight any sanction which might come their way.

The row has added a bizarre chapter to a Rangers season which took another dramatic twist on Saturday when the club’s league fixture at Pershore Town was postponed.

Chairman Paul Garner confirmed he had contacted the league last Thursday to request the game be called-off, citing ‘private reasons’ and not the player shortage later claimed by the home side on their Twitter feed.

Garner told the Express & Star: “We had 18 players available, more than enough to field a team.

“The reason I asked for the game to be postponed was due to an internal matter at the club which shall remain private.

“It was a complete one-off. We have never called a game off due to lack of players and would never do so. We would have played with nine players, if necessary.

“As it was, the league agreed to our request. I am confident we won’t face any sanction.”

Garner and current Rangers boss Pete Whitehouse will hold a meeting tonight to discuss the best way forward.

The early-season pacesetters now sit sixth after conceding seven goals in each of their last two games.

Garner said: “It has been a tough time for the club. It has been like starting the season again with a completely different team. Had things gone differently this season, I believe we could have won the league. As it is we will regroup. We have enough resources to get to the end of the season, that is for sure.”

Sporting boss Spicer said the club were aware of the claims which had been made to the FA.

He said: “In terms of following the rules, we have done everything we have to do. We have the paperwork to prove it.

“A number of players are dual-registered. In actual terms, only one player has moved between the two clubs. We are confident we have done nothing wrong.”

Dudley Sports boss Tony Gore admitted an overwhelming emotion of relief after watching his team win for the first time since November.

Adam Skeldon, Richard Hanson and Jim Hanson were on target as Sports won 3-0 at Pegasus Juniors, a result which saw them climb three points clear of the bottom two.

“We needed it,” said Gore. “If I am being honest, we have probably played better in recent weeks and ended up with nothing but on Saturday the three points was all important.

“It’s quite tight down there still. The key thing for us will be our games in hand. We’ve got at least one on every team above us, three on some.

“If we can win those then we should be set fair. We are starting to drag a few teams above us into the fight.”

Sports are next in action on Saturday when they host the derby against rivals Dudley Town. Dean Whitehouse’s team sit 13th in the table after a 1-1 draw against Bewdley Town.

At the top end of the table, Wolves Casuals retain faint title hopes after winning 3-1 at home to Cradley Town, though it would require a collapse by both Tividale and Haughmond for Dean Gill’s men to stand any chance of pulling off the heist.

Wednesfield’s impressive season continued with a 3-1 home win of their own over Wellington, a result which kept them fifth in the table.

Bilston Town were the weekend’s biggest winners courtesy of an emphatic 6-2 victory away to Shawbury United.

Smethwick Rangers’ poor form continued, as they lost 2-0 at home to Wem Town, their third defeat on the spin.

With neither Tividale or Haughmond in action, the Packwood Road outfit remain nine points clear at the top, though having played two games more.