Witney Academy, formed only last year out of the ashes of Witney Town FC, have resigned from the Cherry Red Records Hellenic League.

Chairman Brian Constable, who closed Witney Town last year after the club had been in existence for 118 years, contacted the league on Friday after struggling to field teams for Division 1 West matches in recent weeks.

Constable confirmed that the club's Marriotts Stadium ground could be sold in the near future.

Chairman Brian Constable, the former Witney Town chief, withdrew the club from Division 1 West of the Cherry Red Records Hellenic League on Friday following problems with fielding a team in recent weeks.

The decision was taken by Constable and manager John Shuker after several players made themselves unavailable for Saturday's scheduled match against Headington Amateurs.

Earlier this season, the club's founder and former secretary Bob Haydon resigned to join Abingdon United as physio.

Constable said: "We had already notified the Hellenic League of our intention to withdraw at the end of the season, but for the whole season, we have struggled to raise a team, despite having over 40 registered players.

"For Saturday's game, we couldn't even get nine players to commit to playing. You just can't go on like that, so we had no other option.

"Witney Academy was very poorly supported, and it all boils down to the bitterness that surrounds the club. I don't think Witney deserves to have a football team with that amount of ill-feeling in the town."

"The stadium is now likely to be sold off, and there is one offer on the table which satisfies me, and a deal is imminent."

"It's a shame, because it could well spell the end of football in Witney, but had the previous club received the support of the community, then it probably wouldn't have closed down in the first place.

"I suppose I'm going to be remembered for ditching two football clubs in the space of eight months, but that's a stigma I'm going to have to live with. It doesn't bother me, because I had a logic in my decisions.

"If the town doesn't support football, and it's impossible to raise a team, then there is no way we can carry on.

"The downfall of Witney Town FC was all caused by the animosity around at the time, and that animosity has poisened the Academy.

"It is those people who are ultimately responsible for the downfall of football in the town.

"I now have a good offer for the ground which is at a very advanced stage. I can't confirm that the ground is sold yet, but it is moving in that direction."