Sholing manager Dave Diaper admits that the club "are in the dark" over which league they will be placed in next season after the Southern League South & West Division One's constitution for 2015/16 saw the Boatmen left out.

Diaper has pinpointed ground grading issues at their Silverlake Arena base as the probable reason  for Sholing's exclusion from the South & West, which they finished 17th in this term. 

It heavily suggests that the club will return to the Sydenhams Premier Division, which they won in 2013/14. 

As it stands, Bashley, who finished bottom of the South & West after winning just one game all season, have been given a reprieve while the Portsmouth Road outfit have dropped out.

"We're still waiting to hear," said Diaper on Thursday evening. "We haven't been notified of anything.

"All we've seen is that the allocations have been made for steps one to four.

"We've had ground-grading issues, but we've had no communication from The FA.

"At this stage we can't say too much.

"We had enquired to The FA, but they haven't said anything, so we're in the dark with it."

The FA have also confirmed that the new Salisbury FC will be playing in the Wessex Premier and Petersfield Town will be placed in the Southern League South & West.

Whites manager Steve Claridge, says he's "hardly surprised" by the decision.

"It wasn't a difficult decision," he said.

"After going to the meeting at Wembley (a few weeks ago), I'm hardly surprised as it was the only division mentioned.

"The size of the club is irrelevant, it's all about where they can put you."

The club were hoping their slim chance of playing Southern League football would be granted, but after not appearing on the FA's step one to four list, Wessex League football beckoned.

"We can argue as much as we did, but unfortunately this is where we've been put," added Claridge.