Milton Road

Lilywhites prepare ground grading appeal

Blue Square South side Cambridge City have decided to appeal the Conference's ground grading decision which will see them demoted from the league.

City have been informed that the Milton Road Ground does not meet up to the required FA 'Category B' rating following an inspection in March.

Apparently, the decision made due to the lack of terracing behind both goals and inadequate turnstile facilities and the club will be looking to the FA to overturn the ruling.

"The key issue is the appeal to the FA and we're very confident we have a good case and we'll get a good hearing," fans' director Rab Crangle said.

"I think there was almost unanimous sympathy from the Conference board members regarding our position, but it was simply a case that they felt their hands were tied.

"The FA rules concerning stadiums applied here so they felt they had no discretion in this matter so that's why we will end up going to the FA."

A statement on the club's official website reads as follows: "The Club has a right of appeal to the FA, which has the power to vary this decision.

"We are confident that the wider issues involved, which include a High Court judgement that the Club had proved its case of bribery - and of fraudulent misrepresentations by an agent of Ross River in the sale of the Club's share of overage - will be taken on board at that stage.

"The fact that the Club was only inspected on 18 March is also a significant factor as there can have been no reasonable prospect of resolving all of the issues in the 13 days leading up to the March 31 deadline."