Published: Saturday, 16th May, 2009 9:00am

Leagues not to unite yet

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Football

THE Observer Industrial League and Thames Valley League will not be merging next season despite fears about a drop in the number of teams competing.

Talks between the two Sunday league organisations took place but there was a convincing vote from both management committees not to join.

Observer League chairman Alan Braybrook said: 'The situation was that both league management committees had to put it to the member teams because they are the ones that are in the league, the management committee have no rights to make the decision and we met up on Thursday, May 7.'

The result of that meeting, as well as the Thames Valley League one, was comprehensively not to go ahead with the partnership.

Mr Braybrook added: 'Although the management committees did agree that we would leave the agenda open for future discussions. If teams continue to disappear we would be likely to return to it. Both of us agree that although the clubs don"t want to get together now we could be returning to the teams in due course, maybe coming back to the table in three or four years time.

'From our perspective, we believe that we have a very strong league, AFC Donsville made the county cup intermediate final, Swans (Taplow) the junior final.

'We"ve got 10 new applications/inquires which we are pursuing which should allow us to fill the gaps for next season from the teams that have dropped out.

'People sometimes like to move to get a different level of competition and play new sides. We"ve got quite a lot of strong teams across the divisions.'

Any teams interested in joining the Observer Industrial League should contact vice chairman Wally Large on 01628 603792 or email wally.large@o2.co.uk for more information.