Portland Town firsts ask to fold and seek Dorset Senior League exit

Town's reserve side, in Dorset League Division Four, wishes to continue.

Any decision on the reserves' future rests on a meeting with league officials tomorrow evening.

However, the expectation is that the first team have played their last game after they sat out this weekend's round of fixtures.

Their request must first be ratified by officials at their hearing.

More positively, the club is in talks to merge with Crossways Spitfires, in Division Three, for the 2023/24 season.

READ MORE: Dorchester Sports Reserves 0-4 Portland Town - match report

Acting chairman and manager Dave Cobb told Echosport: "I cancelled the game away this Saturday to Wincanton.

"I've asked (the league) to withdraw and I've put in a good word for the reserves.

"There are certain players that have agreed to play and I'd have nine or ten every week.

"But I can't go to places with nine players, I can't go with 11 players. It's a competitive league and if we can't compete and it's going to be of detriment to the players then we can't continue."

Many of Town's squad wished to continue playing, and three players were signed from Cobb's main team Crossways, who stepped in to help.

However, Town feel they have insufficient numbers to make participation viable.

Town began this season in the Dorset Senior League having taken one of four promotion spots from Dorset League Division One last term.

Town manager Kieron Neilson-Howes had guided them into Dorset’s second-highest grassroots tier with a finish of third – after finishing below champions Bournemouth Electric on goal difference.

However, Neilson-Howes left the club in early November.

Cobb and Danny James were left with the reins but Town have decided to pull the plug over the Christmas break.

Their most recent match was an 8-1 defeat at Bournemouth Electric on Saturday, December 10.

They are set to exit the league in ninth with 11 points from 11 games, meaning only 11 teams will remain in the Senior League.