Eastbourne Borough chairman Len Smith has slammed the Blue Square south for messing up his club's big night out.
The Conference told Borough on Saturday their play-off final against Hampton and Richmond on Thursday had been switched from Stevenage to Ebbsfleet.
But they completed a U-turn today (Tuesday) by reverting back to the original venue.
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Smith said: "It is a complete shambles. It's ruined one of the biggest night's in the club's history for a lot of our supporters. They will be cheesed off.
"We don't like the way we've been treated and I don't think Hampton and Richmond are too happy about it either.
"I don't think the Conference appreciate what's involved with the travel arrangements.
"It's caused chaos. We had an estimated 5-600 supporters coming along but I doubt if a lot of them can go now.
"Youngsters who booked a coach will not be able to use it because they would have to leave before the end of school. Others have booked non-returnable train fares to Ebbsfleet.
"We had no team coach booked because it was easier for players to drive to Ebbsfleet because it was closer than Stevenage. Now we're having to sort one which had been allocated to other people connected with the club.
"Ironically, I have just had a letter from the Ebbsfleet chairman saying he's looking forward to meeting me.
"Also, we've only just found out what colour shirts to wear - our second strip of yellow. We had wanted to make special shirts to commemorate the occasion.
"We were in the final a couple of years ago at Stoke and arrangements went smoothly."
Borough were kept in the dark over the reasons for the switches.
Conference secretary Dennis Strudwick said: "Ebbsfleet was a contingency plan because there were one or two issues with Stevenage which had not been resolved. But those issues have now been resolved.
"I did not go into the reasons for the changes with Eastbourne Borough because I thought the issues wouldn't be resolved and the match would go ahead at Ebbsfleet.
Posted by: Bob Camberley, Camberley on 8:51am Wed 7 May 08
What a fiasco. The Conference should be utterly ashamed at this. There are about 10 grounds between Hampton and Eastie more than capable of staging this final (Aldershot, Crawley, AFC Wimbledon etc) so why such a horrific journey for both sets of fans - besides the fact they have changed their tune and left many out of pocket. Horrendous mistake that upsets both teams preparations and reduces the fairness of the result.
What a fiasco. The Conference should be utterly ashamed at this. There are about 10 grounds between Hampton and Eastie more than capable of staging this final (Aldershot, Crawley, AFC Wimbledon etc) so why such a horrific journey for both sets of fans - besides the fact they have changed their tune and left many out of pocket. Horrendous mistake that upsets both teams preparations and reduces the fairness of the result.
Posted by: The Chuckle Brother, Langneyshire on 2:11pm Wed 7 May 08
It's a chuffing disgrace. How can the Conference defend themselves against this shambles. How on earth can they consider what a good product they have when they act like this. To use a Will Carling phrase, Dennis Strudwick wouldn't be an 'old fart' by chance would he? Idiot.
It's a chuffing disgrace. How can the Conference defend themselves against this shambles. How on earth can they consider what a good product they have when they act like this. To use a Will Carling phrase, Dennis Strudwick wouldn't be an 'old fart' by chance would he? Idiot.
Posted by: rocky, eastbourne on 10:02pm Wed 7 May 08
It's probably Setanta who have influenced the changes - as with the North final the live fans have been sold down the river to suit TV - otherwise both finals could have taken place on Saturday/Sunday afternoons but that wouldn't suit the TV schedules would it!
It's probably Setanta who have influenced the changes - as with the North final the live fans have been sold down the river to suit TV - otherwise both finals could have taken place on Saturday/Sunday afternoons but that wouldn't suit the TV schedules would it!
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