THERE will be no reprieve from relegation for Totton & Eling.

With Winchester City gaining a late promotion to the Southern League, the Millers had half hoped that as the second-to-bottom club they might be invited to boost the Sydenhams Premier Division numbers back up to 22.

But that was quickly scotched at this evening’s Sydenhams League AGM with SWL chairman Ian Hoare making it clear that the league are determined to maintain good numbers in Division One.

Hoare said: “I look at Division One as being just as important as the Premier Division and we have to do everything we can to protect that status.”

With both Alton Town and Portland United rejoining the league and AFC Stoneham coming up from the Hampshire Premier ranks, Sydenhams One has mushroomed from 15 to 18 teams for 2015/16.

Hoare added: “I was really pleased when we got 18 and my own view is that it’s right and proper to keep Division One as it is and have 21 clubs in the Premier. We weren’t happy losing Winchester, but the FA states what the constitution is going to be.”

Sydenhams Wessex League constitution 2015/16 - 

Premier Division: (21 clubs) AFC Portchester, Alresford Town, Andover Town, Bemerton HH, Blackfield & Langley, Bournemouth Poppies, Brockenhurst, Cowes Sports, Fareham Town, Fawley AFC, Folland Sports, Hamworthy Utd, Horndean, Lymington Town, Moneyfields, Newport IoW, Salisbury, Sholing, Team Solent, Verwood Town, Whitchurch Utd.

Division One: (18 clubs) AFC Stoneham, Alton Town, Amesbury Town, Andover New Street, Christchurch, Downton, East Cowes Vics, Fleet Spurs, Hythe & Dibden, Laverstock & Ford, New Milton Town, Pewsey Vale, Portland Utd, Ringwood Town, Romsey Town, Tadley Calleva, Totton & Eling, US Portsmouth.