We accept our switch to the Northern Division, says Chatham chairman

CHATHAM TOWN chairman Jeff Talbot is keen to know the financial consequences of the club’s switch from Ryman One South to Ryman One North will affect his club, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Medway side join newly promoted Thamesmead Town in the Ryman League Division One North division next season following another re-jig, which was confirmed by the Football Association a couple of days ago.

Chatham, like the Mead, will miss out on Kent derbies against Ashford Town, Cray Wanderers, Sittingbourne and Whitstable Town next season, and like Dartford last season, look forward to "derbies" against Tilbury, Aveley and East Thurrock, although the two Kent sides are likely to lock horns on Boxing Day.

But both Chatham and Thamesmead are looking forward to the new challenges ahead.

"There are many complexities that the FA Leagues Committee encounter in placing clubs over a wide geography," Mr Talbot said in a statement issued on www.chathamtownfc.net.

"In reaching an overall favourable position there will be a few clubs on fringes or near to key arterial roadways that feel that these moves are not overall beneficial to themselves.

"From a Chatham Town perspective the move to the North Division was somewhat anticipated given our location.

"Looking at the downside, we lose derbies with long-term adversaries like Sittingbourne, Ashford and Whitstable.

"However, we leave the South Division with clubs like Cray, Sittingbourne and Dulwich measuring their distance from the Dartford River Crossing for the season 2010-2011, who knows what is around the corner.

"On the upside we get to meet and build relationships with new clubs like Brentwood, Cheshunt and Northwood.

"Local derbies will be Thamesmead, Tilbury, Aveley and East Thurrock.

"Whilst change is sometimes difficult to swallow, I look forward to the opportunities in the North Division.

"Don’t forget we still play in the Ryman League Cup, FA Cup, FA Trophy, we’ll done the Fleet, and Kent based competitions.

"The impact on the club from a footballing point of view is thus probably neutral.

"We look to see what the impact is financially as this will largely depend on whether there are more travelling supporters from the North than we had from the South."

Statement courtesy of www.chathamtownfc.net