THE Sydenhams Wessex League Division One will be a team light for the rest of the season following the withdrawal of Weymouth Reserves.

The league have been advised that the Terras have disbanded their second string with immediate effect to concentrate on their senior side, who are currently sixth in the Evo-Stik South Premier.

All fixtures relating to Weymouth Reserves are cancelled as of now and their record will be expunged.

Weymouth’s withdrawal coincides with the resignation of reserve team boss Bradley Asagba due to a “lifestyle reorientation.”

Asagba’s charges had made a poor start to the season, winning just two and losing six of their eight games and, at the time of pulling out, they sat 15th in the 19-strong division.

This was Weymouth Reserves’ second season as a Wessex side.

They were voted in at last summer’s league AGM despite several club representatives – most notably Hythe & Dibden chairman Dave Cox – having grave reservations about allowing a reserve team into the league.

Even SWL chairman Ian Hoare admitted he didn’t think it was “right for the league” but he stressed that, under the FA’s standardised rules, Weymouth had qualified for promotion through league position and ground grading and were “part of the system.”

An official SWL statement regarding Weymouth Reserves’ withdrawal read: “We have been advised by Weymouth Football Club that they have disbanded their reserve side with immediate effect to concentrate all their energies and finances on their senior side.

“Therefore all fixtures relating to Weymouth Reserves are cancelled as of now and their record will be expunged from the league on Full-Time in due course.

“This casts no reflection whatsoever on Ray Pearce (reserve team secretary) and his colleagues who have looked after all aspects of the side so well since their joining the league and who are obviously greatly upset by the decision.

“The withdrawal will be dealt with under league rules.”