Bulls to fight denied promotion

Saturday 28 March 2020

The record-breaking Jersey Bulls have pledged to fight a decision to deny them promotion after their record-breaking season was voided due to the virus outbreak.

After an unbeaten season that even surpassed Liverpool’s momentous few months, the rookie club will see its results and achievements rendered null and void by the FA, after football’s governing body decided to expunge results for 2019-20 for non-league divisions below the National League and National League North and South.

It means the team won't be able to progress to the Combined Counties Premier Division.

Bulls chairman Russell Le Feuvre said in a statement: “We are of course disappointed with the recent decision of the FA to null and void the season, and discount the club’s hard work over the last eight months and our record-breaking first season.

Pictured: The full statement from Bulls chairman Russell Le Feuvre.

“The club was in the unusual position of having already secured promotion at the time the league was suspended and we will be engaging further with the FA and Combined Counties League on this issue.

“We are extremely proud of the wonderful efforts and achievements of all our players, management team and club members,” the statement added. “We would also like to thank all our supporters for their overwhelming support in our first season.”

Mr Le Feuvre added that the club’s thoughts “first and foremost surround the wellbeing of all our club members, players and supporters, and the wider public during these difficult times”.

Jersey Bulls are not the only club to have suffered from the FA’s decision. The chairman of South Shields, who sat 12 points clear in the Northern Premier League, said his club had been “badly let down” and would consider legal action.

Although Guernsey FC, playing in the higher Isthmian League, has also seen its season scrubbed out, the impact has been less dramatic: the Sarnians were 13th in the table and out of contention for promotion or relegation.