STUART MARKS has threatened to pull Delaford out of the East Berkshire Premier Division after claiming “pathetic” and “silly” treatment of his team by rival clubs.

Delaford were promoted from Division Three last season and their new-look side have made an impressive start this year, topping the Premier Division with 13 points from six matches.

Marks, who took over as manager during Christmas last year, believes his team have upset the apple cart, and he has hit back at claims Delaford are paying players that are contracted to other clubs.

“I’ve brought in players that I know and we won near enough every game up until the end of last season,” he told the Observer.

“We’ve been moved into the Premier Division and we want to win the league.

“We have slipped up a couple of times but on occasions we’ve been totally dominant with quite a few good wins.

“This league is a bit funny because it’s been going a long time with the same players and teams.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: James Ward of Eton Wick (yellow) holds of Delaford's Swaylee Marks to play a pass on Saturday.

“They’ve started to take little digs and I’ve not taken too kindly to it. They’re having little digs because we’ve upset the apple cart and they don’t like it.

“People go on about matching the Hellenic League and playing under floodlights, so they should be encouraging quality players into the league, but they are digging and suggesting we pay players because they’re too good.

“I’ve got two or three really good players but it’s pathetic, an embarrassment and silly.

“I’m seriously considering pulling my team out next season.

“We’ve never been in the Premier Division before but other teams are pals with the committee, and even some of their senior figures are on it. It seems like they have their favourites.

“We are not cheating but it feels like we’re not welcome in the league. We’re not doing anything wrong but it feels like other clubs are not happy with it.”

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Delaford goal scorer George Cannon (blue) and Jay Coff of Eton Wick compete for the ball in the Premier Division clash on Saturday.

Marks was due to meet with the East Berkshire League committee last night (Thursday) to discuss the matter further.

Delaford extended their lead at the top of the Premier Division with a 2-1 win away at Eton Wick thanks to a George Cannon penalty and a Swaylee Marks strike on Saturday.

Delaford boss, Stuart Marks, commented: “It was a rubbish game and we didn’t deserve to beat them. We were on top in the first-half but no good in the second.

“We were definitely the better team in the first-half. We played good football and got in behind them quite a bit with a goal disallowed that looked perfectly good.

“But, the two teams cancelled each other out in the second-half.

“All in all, I suppose it’s the right result because they did not have any chances and our keeper didn’t really have a save to make, but to be fair neither did their keeper.

“Eton Wick will probably say they deserved to win it but over the 90 minutes I think we did.”