DARWEN have been relegated to the North West Counties Football League Second Division because their ground does not come up to scratch.

The League's grading committee sat last night and confirmed today that Darwen had been relegated for not carrying out the required improvements by the April 1 deadline.

Chadderton, who finished 12th, and Warrington have also been relegated because their grounds do not meet First Division standards.

Darwen finished second bottom of the table but, with Haslingden folding, expected to survive.

And manager Steve Wilkes admitted he was "stunned" when the Lancashire Evening Telegraph broke the news to him today.

"It's a massive disappointment and a real kick in the teeth," added Wilkes who hopes Darwen will now appeal against the decision.

"There will be changes and next year and I will be trying to bring new personnel in but that will be harder if we go down."

Bottom club Atherton Collieries have survived as a result of the reshuffle and coming up to the top-flight will be Oldham Town, Skelmersdale, Leek CSOB and Bootle, who finished seventh in Division Two but are the highest place side to meet the ground grading requirements.

The other side joining the First Division will be Workington Town or Buxton who finished in the bottom two of the Unibond League First Division.

Workington are due to come down but the NWCFL are appealing to the pyramid's governing body to allow Buxton to take their place instead on geographical grounds.

Curzon Ashton and Manchester club Abbey Hey have applied to join the league and their applications will be considered at the league's AGM.

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