Chatham have reacted with disbelief to the Football Association wanting to switch them back to Ryman League Division 1 North, after only one season in the southern division.

The news came in a short email to secretary Henry Longhurst from the FA’s League and Clubs manager Mike Appleby, and follows Merthyr’s removal from the Pyramid, Ashford’s decision against being reprieved back to the Ryman League Premier Division, and Eastbourne Town staying in Division 1 South, despite finishing bottom.

Director of football Steve Binks (pictured) said: "We find it incredible that the demise of a club in Wales should trigger a strange chain of events like this, and we would like to be able to understand the reasons.

"Mike Appleby has replied saying he understands our concerns and says they will be discussed at a committee meeting.

"We were switched to the North before, because we were nearest to the Dartford Tunnel, but what about Dulwich Hamlet?

"We will miss out on so many good Kent derbies. We have budgeted for them accordingly, only to have them taken away from us."

Chatham have unveiled Schneider Trading Associates as their new sponsors.

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