Keith and Joy Neville

TROWBRIDGE Town officials will decide next week whether to mount a challenge against the Wiltshire FA's decision to block their groundshare deal with neighbours Westbury United next season.

The Hellenic League First Division side had wanted to groundshare at Meadow Lane while their own new proposed stadium went through the planning process.

Discussions between the two clubs had been ongoing for several weeks before Wilts FA secretary Mike Benson intervened three weeks ago.

Benson told Trowbridge that although the national FA allows groundsharing, the Wiltshire FA does not allow two senior clubs in the county to share facilities.

Now Trowbridge chairman John Fitchen has revealed the club may appeal to the national FA against the Wiltshire FA's decision.

Fitchen said: "There's a possibility we would appeal against this. I would have thought that with the publicity this has received they (the Wiltshire FA) might reconsider."

The club will make a final decision on whether to appeal in the next week.

The club's decision comes as lifelong Trowbridge Town supporter Keith Neville launched his own campaign against the ruling.

He has called on the national FA to review the Wiltshire FA ban.

Neville, who with his wife Joy, follows Trowbridge home and away from their home in Reading, has written to the national FA at Soho Square asking if an appeal can be made against the Wiltshire decision.

Neville said: "I fail to understand the logic in denying the county town of Wiltshire the standard of football it deserves.

"The youngsters of the town deserve the opportunity to progress to a high level whilst representing their own town. I think the case for arguing that this is to the benefit of any town, any locality, and to any nation are well-established.

"The club desperately need to progress through the pyramid whilst planning, and building for the new stadium take place, but now find this denied without satisfactory explanation."

Neville added: "It seems a nonsense that the national FA lay down national guidelines and a county FA can ignore them."

10:58am Friday 28th March 2008

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