THE Sussex FA have ditched plans for a football tax after an outcry from leagues and clubs.

Last month the Sports Argus exclusively revealed how the FA was planning to charge every player in the county a £2 registration fee next season.

The controversial move, affecting 30,000 players of all ages and abilities, would have raised £60,000.

FA finance chairman Ron Pavey said it was only the price of a pint, but there was uproar from clubs already struggling to balance the books as costs spiral.

Longley FC, who play in the Crawley League, even threatened to fold rather than pay the tax.

Most youth league secretaries were in favour of the levy, but adult leagues spoke out against the proposal and urged clubs to attend a special general meeting on March 3 to vote it out.

Now the FA, which has run up losses of £36,000 over the last three seasons, has scrapped the meeting.

In a letter to clubs, John Davey, president of the FA, said they felt the meeting would be unproductive.

Peter Strange, secretary of the Mid Sussex League, said commonsense had prevailed, adding: "It might jolt the FA into realising they cannot get away with murder."

Doug Saunders, secretary of the East Sussex League, said: "It is the right decision."

Now soccer chiefs are examining alternative ways of raising cash, including increased club affiliation fees next season.

And they are also lobbying David Davies, acting chief executive of the English FA, for more funding to help pay for a bigger staff at the county's Lancing headquarters.

New posts include a chief coach and development officer, finance officer and commercial manager, who will operate on commission only.

However, representative football, which cost the FA £23,000 last season, seems likely to survive despite calls for it to be axed unless sponsorship can be found.

Mr Davey said: "It has always been the policy of the Sussex FA to promote football at all levels and this view is supported by the Football Association."

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