Worcester City to drop three divisions

Worcester City are to drop three divisions after they resigned from the National League, the club will play in the Midland League Premier Division from next season.

Worcester City’s board have released a statement saying the decision was down to rising costs of operating at their level. The Worcester City board felt they had “no option” other than to contact the Football Association and the league about their intentions to play at a lower level “at the beginning of March” despite the team’s best efforts to stay up.

The club recently appointed new joint managers in Lee Hughes and John Snape.

A club statement said “The football club wishes to advise supporters and shareholders that due to the excessive costs attached to retaining National League North (Step 2) status, and despite a battle to the end of the season, a decision was made to resign from the National League. This decision was made collectively by the board of directors, with input from the management team, to ensure the future survival of the football club."

It added “This season in particular has seen significant playing budgets being available to many other clubs at step two, making it an elite tier of non-league football with over-inflated player wages, and impossible for the club to remain competitive whilst operating within its means.”