WHEN DAVE Cox joked that Weymouth Reserves had drawn Hythe & Dibden in the Sydenhams League Cup, it brought some much-needed mirth to the Sydenhams Wessex AGM.

But, deep down, it was no laughing matter for the long-serving Hythe chairman.

He was livid that Weymouth’s second string had been granted promotion from the Dorset Premier League to become the first ever reserve side in Sydenhams One.

Despite numerous objections voiced by clubs, the vote went 26-20 in favour of accepting the Football Association’s proposed Wessex constitution for 2016/17 with Terras’ reserves joining Baffins Milton Rovers, Hamble Club and Shaftesbury in promotion from Step 7.

And much as Cox welcomes new blood into the league, he is fuming that a reserve side has been let in.

“I’ve spent 25 years with Hythe & Dibden making them a good club – and now, suddenly, we’re a reserve league. It’s ridiculous!” he fumed.

“I’m disappointed that some of the clubs voted to let them in.

“The next thing we know we’ll get another reserve side and then another and we’ll end up as a reserve league.

“The rules say that reserve sides are not allowed into our league and I can’t understand how they were ever let into the pyramid system in the first place.

“Five years ago the league said they would not accept reserve teams into Step 6 (Wessex One), but now they have.

“And what happens in four or five years’ time if Weymouth keep winning the league and want to go up?

“We’re told they’re not allowed into Step 5 (Wessex Premier), but what if they challenge that?

They could end up in our Premier League.”

Cox’s view is not shared by everyone.

Christchurch boss Ollie Cherrett welcomes Weymouth Reserves’ inclusion in Sydenhams One, insisting players and managers should “embrace” playing at a Southern Premier ground with good facilities.

Cherrett added: “Weymouth Reserves have been around and strong for a long time. I think it is good for the league.

“You could understand concerns over games being called off to protect the pitch for the first team but, in my experience, that never happened when they were in the Dorset Premier League.”

Cox, though, says it is not Weymouth Reserves he objects to, more the way it has been done.

He cannot believe the goalposts have been shifted so dramatically.

He recalled: “A few years ago our reserves did well in the Southampton League under Colin Burdle, but they weren’t allowed into the Premier Division.

“And what about Sholing? They had a really good reserve side when Dave Fear was there and won the Southampton Senior Cup three or four times.

"I’m sure they would have liked a reserve side in Wessex One but it wasn’t allowed and that will have held Sholing back.

“But Dave Diaper (Sholing manager) and Dave Malone at Winchester City are not stupid. They’ll be thinking now what’s to stop them entering a reserve team in the Hampshire Premier League and winning promotion to Wessex One?

“AFC Totton already spoke about it in The Pink.

“Once you let one reserve team in, you’ll get more – and where does that leave clubs like QK Southampton?

“They can’t get in because they haven’t got floodlights and yet they’re letting a reserve team in!

“Weymouth might have one hell of a reserve team, but I’d far rather play Hamble Club and AFC Stoneham who have worked their guts out to get ground grading and done it the proper way.

“You spend £100,000 trying to improve things and get a great youth policy going at Hythe and now, all of a sudden, we’re playing reserve teams.

"It’s not right.”