Marske United, one of Workington Reds’ rivals in the NPL Premier Division, have resigned from the league.
The Northern Premier League say they received a letter of resignation from Marske United FC along with a signed motion, voted upon by the club’s committee present at a meeting held on January 2, confirming the decision to resign from membership of the NPL.
A statement said: “The league has been in regular dialogue with Mark Hastings-Long, chairman of Marske United, providing help and guidance. Mr Hastings-Long has been working hard to find a way to address the issues facing the club and has provided regular updates to the league.
“However, the latest financial information shows the accumulated monthly losses mean that the club cannot realistically complete the 2023/24 playing season.
“The league is disappointed and sad to lose a member in such circumstances and thanks the club for their attention and efforts over the past few weeks. The NPL board will convene in the coming days and no further statement will be issued until after that meeting.”
A Marske club statement said: “Our football club faced the real threat of extinction.
“It has punched above its weight for many years, achieving exceptional success along the way, but unfortunately stretched itself too far and lived beyond its means.
“The price of a rapid rise through the leagues is exponential for a volunteer ran football club.
“Ever increasing travel, wage and maintenance costs, alongside greater infrastructure requirements and the pressures on unpaid volunteers are just some of the many challenges faced by non-league football clubs throughout the region and across the country.
“These issues combined with our own unique circumstances such as floodlight sabotage, pitch related postponements, and material delays in last summer’s essential drainage work which prevented any pre-season home friendly revenue ultimately brought an existential threat to Marske United, which has been fighting to survive from week to week.
“In all our efforts, our number one objective has always been to try and save the football club.
“At one stage that did not look possible, and we apologise unreservedly for how events have transpired, both in recent months and over the past year.
“The club is sorry for how the situation has been handled from our perspective.
“However, today we can confirm that we have ultimately been successful in our mission.
“Thanks to the fundraising efforts, and significant financial contributions from the new directors, we now have enough funds to service and stabilise the critical concerns needed to ensure our football club can continue to exist.
“If this money had not been raised, then Marske United would not have been allowed to return in any familiar name, shape or form at any level, or play at Mount Pleasant ever again.
“The club has been saved. However, our second objective was to save our season.
“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts on and off the pitch, we will not be able to achieve this after exhausting every available option to raise the £120,000 in funds required to get the first team to the end of the season.
“The ongoing weekly and monthly costs to operate at this level are just too great, even with the implementation of further significant cost saving measures to reduce the deficit.
“At this stage any further attempts to continue down this path would ultimately jeopardize objective one, as there are no guarantees we would be successful in our efforts, and these would most likely be detrimental to our main mission, leaving the club with no funds, nor future.
“However, our collective efforts have not been in vain.
“All of the money raised so far will provide our community club with a solid foundation to rejoin the football pyramid at lower-level next season where space is available.
“This will provide Marske United with a platform to rebuild again properly in terms of organisation and infrastructure, and the club will survive.
“Thus, with a heavy heart the club informed the Northern Premier League and the FA of our decision to withdraw from the Northern Premier League Premier Division which has been accepted.
“We would like to place on record our thanks to all official stakeholders for their assistance, guidance, and support behind the scenes, which is often unseen by most.
“Discussions as to which league the Marske United first team will play in next season are already underway. A final decision will be ratified by the FA at the end of the season.
“The Marske United Junior Teams will continue to play this season. We also plan to move our remaining Marske United Reserve Team fixtures from New Marske Sports Club to Mount Pleasant to continue to provide weekly football for the community, free of charge, as per North Riding League regulations.
“This will ensure that the facilities at Mount Pleasant are well-maintained ahead of the return of league football for the First Team next season.
“We would like to thank all the players, coaches, volunteers, partners, other clubs, but most importantly the fans for all their countless efforts and unwavering support.
“For now, there will be break, but this not a goodbye by any means, and as always, we will be back!”
Marske’s record will be expunged from the league table standings, and Workington won’t be affected as they lost in the North East and have not played them at Borough Park.
They were due to play at Workington on Saturday, March 16 – which will now be a free week for the Reds.
