MANAGER Dan Bateman has revealed Wokingham & Emmbrook’s are hopeful of remaining in Division One of the Hellenic League, writes Dave Wright.

The Sumas’ future has been uncertain since the announcement that all clubs had to have floodlights – a facility not yet in place at Lowther Road.

But Bateman said: “We are working with the FA and the Hellenic League and we are hopeful they will allow us to stay in Division One based on the fact we will have floodlights by the end of the season, so it is work in progress.”

He confirmed the club have got planning permission for lights to be installed and has been told the funding is in place, adding: “Getting everything done takes time and unfortunately we are not going to meet the deadline for the beginning of next season, but we will have them by the end of the season.

“We have the support of the Hellenic League and Berks & Bucks FA, so we are hoping the FA will give us a bit of leeway. Unlike some other clubs, we have light at the end of the tunnel.”

There is a possibility that the two divisions, East and West, will become one for the 2018-19 campaign. And Bateman believes the Sumas, who finished sixth this seasons, will more than hold their own.

“The squad we have is good enough to compete in the top half of the table and, with a couple of additions, we should be able to push up higher,” he said.

He explained: “We are heading in the right direction and we are now a lot stronger than we were at the start of the season.

“If I could have started the season with the squad I finished with, then I am sure we would have finished higher up the league.

“We have made some solid foundations and we will be looking to push on.”

Wokingham’s hopes of making further progress in the Reading Invitation Senior Cup – a competition they have won before – ended last week when they lost 4-3 to Highmoor Ibis in their quarter-final tie at Rivermoor Stadium last Thursday.

The hosts raced into a four-goal lead before half time, but the fired-up Sumas stormed back with goals from Elliott Rushforth and two from Jake White.

Bateman revealed: “We were very disappointed with our first-half performance, but we had a few strong words at half time and there was a good response from the players in the second half. We could easily have made it 4-4.”

Highmoor will now play Marlow United in the semi-finals at Rivermoor tomorrow (Thursday).