AFC TOTTON, Salisbury and Winchester City will, after all, be putting Evesham United into their Sat Navs next season.

The FA have overturned their original decision to uproot the Robins from the Southern One South & West to the Northern Premier League Division One South, writes Wendy Gee.

Evesham were in danger of becoming the fall guys when South & West champions Cinderford Town dropped the bombshell news that they could not accept promotion due to the cost of travelling to away games.

The raging Robins lodged an appeal, arguing that a move to the Northern Premier League would cost them upwards of £25,000 in additional travelling and loss of revenue from local games.

They were particularly incensed that, had Cinderford remained in the South & West, it would be them rather than Evesham benefitting from crowd magnets Hereford and Salisbury being promoted to the S&W.

Evesham chairman Jim Cockerton went as far as to suggest Cinderford had “cheated” in an angry interview with The Non-League Paper and said they should be kicked out of the league.

The FA’s decision, however, was to restore the status quo and place Cinderford in the Southern Premier against their wishes.

A league statement said: “The FA Appeal Board upheld Evesham United’s appeal against being transferred to the Northern Premier League Division One South and ordered that the original publication of the Club Allocations on the 12th May be re-instated with immediate effect.

“For the avoidance of doubt this order applies only to the situation affecting the decision surrounding Cinderford Town FC and other affected Clubs and does not affect any other decision determined by earlier Appeal Boards elsewhere within the pyramid.

"The clubs affected will revert to the original allocations as follows - Cinderford Town - Southern League Premier Division, Corby Town - Northern Premier League Premier Division, Stamford - Northern Premier League Division One South, Evesham United - Southern League Division One South & West.

The saga has deeply upset Stamford AFC who had been told they would be reprieved from relegation, having finished 21st in the NPL Premier Division.

Their chairman Bob Feetham said: “This is absolutely devastating. To be told three weeks ago that we were reinstated into the NPL and then to have it all snatched away so long after is absolutely dreadful.

"For all of us involved with the club, be it player, director or supporter, it feels like we have been relegated all over again.

“I find it hard to believe that we have been notified only by email and there hasn’t even been a phonecall, by your leave, or an apology from anyone. It is shabby and certainly not the way I would do business.

"I also note that we have no right of appeal. Some democracy!”

It is understood that Cinderford are holding an emergency meeting today to discuss the future of the club.