Northwich forced to play at Rangers

Stafford Rangers will act as landlords to Northwich Victoria after they were forced to honour an agreement to play 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 ground for the following season in place by March 31 or they would 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 the Vics will have to play at Marston Road - over 40 miles from Northwich - after their case was heard at Wembley Stadium yesterday.

A Football Association commission rejected their proposal to groundshare with Flixton at Valley Road, less than 20 miles away from their old home.