=OXFORDSHIRE'S football power struggle has taken a dramatic turn with a rebel section of clubs and member leagues calling an extraordinary general meeting.

The OFA had until last Thursday to give clubs and members three weeks' notice of a date for an EGM which had to be held by March 9.

But last Thursday's deadline passed with no date being set, and so now the clubs and member leagues - acting under OFA rules - have recruited more than one-tenth of members required to call their own EGM.

The rebel clubs include Witney Town, Carterton Town and Clanfield, and the leagues who are backing them include the Banbury & District League, the Lord Jersey FA and the Elsevier Oxfordshire Youth League.

Witney Town chairman Brian Constable, the leader of the rebels, said: "The clubs have basically called a meeting to get it sorted because the OFA have not done it and the clubs are not going to allow it to continue."

Constable claimed he had sent a letter to OFA acting secretary David Hovard by recorded delivery on Monday with a requisition from the 'rebel 49' for an EGM on a date not later than eight weeks from Hovard receiving the letter.

He said the clubs were calling for an independent chairman, and had been told by the Football Association that Nicholas Coward had been offered as a possibility.

And the 'rebel 49' have also set an agenda which includes:

Eligibility of those attending

To give OFA Council and directors the opportunity to answer allegations made by 'sacked' secretary Ron Leaver

Resolve the situation regarding removal of Leaver

Acceptability of present OFA directors and council

Address current imbalance of elected and appointed members on the council

Hovard said he was unaware of the 'rebel 49' calling an EGM. He said: "We have an OFA Council meeting tonight, so I shall probably hear then."

Story date: Wednesday 23 February

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