ORLETON will not field a side in next season’s Herefordshire Football League after a mass exodus of players and staff, it has been confirmed.

The club had two teams in the league last season – Orleton in Division One and Orleton Reserves in Division Two, and both finished in mid-table.

However, first-team manager Mark Hollis quit at the end of the season, citing commitment issues within the squad.

And the Advertiser last week revealed that reserve team bosses Dane Pearce and Alan Hoppcutt have left for Woofferton, who are re-entering the league after a season out.

Jim Lambert, Herefordshire League chairman, told the Advertiser: “Orleton will not have a team in the league next season.

“It’s most disappointing and it’s very much a loss to the league because they are a very well run club who were in the Premier Division not so long ago.”

Former reserve team boss Pearce said it was a ‘shame’ that the club had been forced to withdraw from the league but said outdated facilities had become an increasing problem.

He said: “The first team was struggling for numbers towards the end of the season and the reserve team, as it was, will now play as Woofferton.

“Essentially, the facilities at Woofferton are better. They have been talking about new changing rooms at Orleton for I don’t know how long but nothing has happened.

“I’ve been at Orleton for ten years and it’s a shame but ultimately it’s been the promise of new facilities that have never arrived.

“There is a lot more interest from new players in playing for Woofferton – it’s a lot easier than it was persuading new players to play for Orleton.”