Wilkes in quit shock (From Droitwich Advertiser)

Wilkes in quit shock

8:00am Thursday 31st January 2013 in Sport

BROMSGROVE Sporting have been forced to reshuffle their board after Paul Wilkes quit his role as chief operating officer.

Wilkes decided to step down in protest over the reserve team being shut down at the end of the season.

The move is part of a plan to cut down the number of matches played on the Victoria Ground pitch without damaging income.

Sunday league sides Galacticos and Victoria Barnt Green will no longer play at the ground, while Birmingham City’s academy side will also move on.

Sporting have tied up a deal for Earlswood Town to play at Bromsgrove, which will also generate funds for the club.

Wilkes decided to quit his seat on the board after a meeting last Wednesday, where they voted to pass the plan for next season.

It means only the first team, Earlswood, as well as the Midland Floodlit Youth and Central Conference teams will play at the Victoria Ground during the 2013-14 campaign.

Chairman John Teece said: “We had a meeting last Wednesday to discuss the way forward for the club.

“We had a situation where we were playing 150 games on the Victoria Ground pitch which was not feasible.

“From next season we’ve reduced that to about 80, with the first team, Earlswood Town and Midlands Floodlit and Central Conference teams playing on it.

“The committee voted 90 per cent in favour finish the reserve team and the only one who disagreed was Paul.

“The reserves only ever attracted one or two spectators and never paid for the officials and did not generate any money in the bar.”

The Rouslers’ second string currently top the Midland Combination Reserves Division Two and are well on their way to promotion.

Teece is set to take will take over looking after club’s financial accounts, while the first team management duo of Keith Draper and Graham Scott will now be included in board meetings.

Wilkes will stay on as reserve team secretary until the end of the current campaign.

He said: “There was nothing malicious in my decision, there was simply a disagreement in the direction of the club.

“I will be still be reserve secretary until the end of the current season, it’s a shame because the team are doing ever so well.”

Meanwhile, table-topping Sporting take on Midland Combination Premier title rivals at home on Saturday (3pm ko).

Draper and Scott boast a full-strength squad and a seven point lead over the second-placed opponents, who have five games in hand.

Sporting saw the weekend’s clash against Pershore postponed because of a frozen pitch.