The Club has been asked to clarify why we will not be promoted this season even if we win the playoffs. An explanation follows which has been in part copied from the excellent article on Bedford Town FC's website who in finishing 4th just above us are in exactly the same disappointing position.
Most people at the football club are aware of the situation with regards the playoffs, and the unfortunate predicament we find ourselves in due to the points per game scenario required to gain promotion to step three this season. This is something that the club have been aware of since last summer, and along with several other clubs at this level, have stated our disappointment to both the Football Association and Southern League. For those who are not aware, this season sees twelve vacant spaces for clubs to be promoted to step three from seven leagues at step four. Seven of these spaces have already been taken up with the winners of step four leagues, leaving the five playoff winners with the best points per game record to be promoted. We go into this playoff semi-final with the knowledge that we do not have a strong enough points per game record to be promoted, regardless of whatever happens over the next week.

There have been a number of comments around social media about why the club are bothering to play this fixture, knowing that we have no chance of promotion. The club would like to state that we understand the fans frustration with regards the situation, especially from those who have only just found out about this in the last few days or weeks. The Royals would like to also put on record our thanks to other clubs and fans from around the country who have given their support to the situation we find ourselves in. However, despite this, Toothy, the management team and players are committed to the playoffs and we intend to give our all to achieve a positive result against a very difficult Bromsgrove side.

Last summer, Toothy and his coaching team sat down and agreed that our target for the season should be a playoff spot, a cup final and an FA Cup run. All of these have been achieved and it's been a great season. Everyone at the football club has given their all to see us finish in 5th place and achieve that target. We would be disrespecting ourselves, Bromsgrove and the Non League game as a whole, if we didn’t continue to achieve the goal set out at the start of the season. The Royals last reached the playoffs 4 years ago. It is not something that comes around every season, and the team are ready to compete in our first playoff game since then.

As previously mentioned, we also have great respect for our friends and other clubs at step four across the country. We are aware that teams in other leagues will be looking for us to do our best to win the playoffs, in order to give them a greater chance of promotion (by knocking out Bromsgrove and then Corby who have a higher points per game ratio). It would be of great disrespect to ignore this and is another reason why we will be putting effort and priority into Wednesday night’s fixture.

The word might be online that it is a pointless fixture, but your support could prove vital in finishing our most successful season for several years on a high.