THE mass exodus from Wellow Football Club has been averted and it will not be losing its management and players after all.

As reported in the Romsey Advertiser on May 11, chairman John Traies, manager Wayne Lockey and secretary Heather Maidment planned to resign following Test Valley Borough Council's refusal to grant planning permission for new floodlights.

The decision meant Wellow were unable to meet the requirements of the Wessex League and would have to seek a place in the new Hampshire Premier League.

Instead of staying at Wellow, the management planned to move the entire team to Whitchurch United, where it appeared they would be welcomed with open arms.

And as recently as last Saturday, a report appeared indicating that Whitchurch were looking forward to the arrival of the Wellow contingent.

But this week Mr Lockey said: "We are all staying at Wellow."

There had been suggestions, during the club's unsuccessful floodlights bid, that there had been a lack of support from Wellow Parish Council, which owns the Hatches Farm ground and leases it to the club.

However, there appeared to be a new optimism this week and Mr Lockey said: "The council are meeting this week to discuss the development plans from the club and I think everyone is quite excited about it. The reaction we have had from the council has been very, very good."

Despite having to forfeit their Wessex League place, it appears the club have been able to keep all their players and are already looking ahead to pre-season training which begins on June 17.

"We will be trying to win the Hampshire Premier League and get back into the Wessex League," said Mr Lockey, adding that a fresh application for floodlights was under consideration.

Meanwhile, the parish council's policy and finance committee was looking at the situation last night (Thursday).

Before that meeting, parish council chairman Veronica Perry said: "The parish council has never not supported the football club."

And she added that in the past year, the parish had provided £12,000 towards pavilion improvements at Hatches Farm.

On the question of the floodlights, Mrs Perry said: "There was a previous application from the tennis club for lights over its courts and that was turned down and we did warn the football club that they, too, were unlikely to get lights."

Meanwhile, there was surprise and disappointment at Whitchurch United, where club chairman Gary Lovett said: "They came to us, cap in hand, after being refused floodlights."

"So we went to the whole committee and they agreed to it, so we went back to Wellow and they said they had 100 per cent backing from their players, so we said let's go ahead'."

Mr Lovett said he had spoken with Wayne Lockey and the move was now definitely off.

"I don't think we would even contemplate it now," added Mr Lovett.