Fireworks in the Blue Square as Lewes become first to drop

Be honest, you've been itching to see which club from the first five divisions would be the first to suffer relegation in 2009. Well, itch no more - Blue Square Premier side Lewes fell foul of external results last Tuesday and their long-awaited doom was confirmed.

But the humiliation of being relegated with a full week remaining in March is the least of the Sussex club's concerns. Just as news of draws for York City and Grays Athletic rolled in on Tuesday evening, Lewes' managing director Martin Elliott was weighing up some rather important possibilities.

Just 48 hours after Lewes' survival became mathematically impossible, the cut-off point - the moment at which ten-point deductions come into play next season instead of this - passed.

Despite Lewes hanging by a thread financially, Elliott chose to take a risk by not bringing in the administrators before Thursday.

While many supporters were probably expecting the club to sacrifice a non-consequential ten points this term, Lewes - winners only four times this season - have decided to fight on.

This, according to Martin Elliott, is because there is more to administration than deciding when to say cheerio to a few points.

He contends that there are no advantages from administration for Lewes:

• Going into administration costs a lot of money, which could just go to creditors
• The club would still have to pay those creditors in full
• Failure to do so by June would put the club's Conference membership at risk

But there are complications. While Elliott has been talking to "a number of interested people", administration remains a possibility. On top of risking contravention of the Conference rules, this would now mean kicking off 2009/10 in the Blue Square South with minus ten points.

But it gets worse: one of the club's creditors, Portakabin, has taken time out from building stands for Birmingham City (chuckle) to issue a winding-up order. The petition will be heard this week, with a further statement expected from the club on a similar timescale.

So, has Martin Elliott made the right decision in fighting for the best outcome for Lewes Football Club, or has he just been playing fast and loose with its fortunes?

Without a buyer, administration looks likely. Let's hope Lewes don't regret missing their chance to ditch the points and run.

(Photo: Viva Art)

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Posted by Chris Nee

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