SANDHURST Town have been forced to scrap their reserve and midweek Under 18 side following an enforced relegation from the Combined Counties Premier Division.

The Fizzers finished second from bottom last season, but have been relegated to Division One next season by the Football Association due to movement of clubs elsewhere in the football pyramid.

The decision, made last month, was a direct result of Alton Town being forced to moved from the Wessex League to the Combined Counties Premier Division. Ash United, who finished a point above the Fizzers were also relegated.

Sandhurst chairman Tony Dean, pictured, says he is 'very unhappy' about the situation but has taken the decision on the chin and is already planning for life in Division One.

"Our number one goal is to go straight back up to the Premier Division," he said.

He confirmed that Sandhurst are dropping the reserves and the midweek U18 side next season to save money and give the club every chance of bouncing back up at the first attempt.

Sandhurst will now face local rivals Eversley & California in the league after they just missed out on promotion in the last campaign.

Ironically, the Fizzers would have been eligible to move across to the Hellenic Premier Division and thus deny Bracknell Town promotion from Division One East.

This would have saved them from relegation and filled the remaining vacant spot in the Premier Division, but, due to FA bureaucracy, they were denied the opportunity to apply and had to accept their fate.

The Fizzers kick off their pre-season campaign on Saturday (1pm ko) by hosting former Sandhurst manager Jon Underwood and his new-look Slough Town side. Underwood is joint manager with another familiar face at Bottom Meadow, Neil Baker, and they both previously managed Godalming Town.