Sholing manager/chairman Dave Diaper has been left feeling stitched-up after the Boatmen had their demotion from the Southern League back to the Sydenhams Wessex League confirmed.

The Silverlake Arena side, who finished 17th in the Southern League South & West, were left out of the competition’s roster for next season and were temporarily left in limbo as to which level they will play at next term.

But Sholing were finally informed of their Wessex Premier status by The FA, leaving Diaper at odds to why a ground-grading inspection last summer had passed their base on Portsmouth Road fit for promotion in the first place.

The Boatmen know they will be slated by some Wessex clubs for “yo-yoing” in and out of the division, which they won in 2013/14 after voluntary relegation from Step 4 the year before.

Diaper insists that their latest demotion is none of their own doing and had they known that their ground would not have all the necessary facilities to host Southern League games, they would have never gone up in the first place.

“There just needs to be some consistency in the ground-grading,” said a disappointed Diaper.

“I know there’s a lot of work to be done for ground-grading for the league, but we need everyone singing from the same hymn-sheet.

“The difference is that had we found out at the first inspection that our ground wasn’t up to standard, then we wouldn’t have ever taken promotion.

“It’s as simple as that.

“All I want to ask is why did that not get picked up on when the first inspection was done?

“There’s just no consistency and that’s what we need, badly.

“I know it’s difficult but it’s such a grey area when it comes to ground-grading.

“Of course, I can sympathise because there’s a lot of work to do for the league, but I’m always with the clubs on this kind of thing.

“We had no choice given to us on that first visit.

“Had we known and had that choice of going up or staying down, then of course we’d have decided to stay down.

“I feel really disappointed because it wasn’t our fault that this has happened.

“Bottom line is would never have gone up had we known that we’d have a ground-grading issue.”

Secretary Greg Dickson received an email confirming their placement at Step 5 and the Boatmen know they’ll take some flak as they prepare for life back in the Wessex.

“We’ll be admitted into the Wessex,” said Diaper. “We’re going to get slated for it, but I don’t know why we should – this isn’t our fault.

“Without knowing the full facts, it looks like we’re just yo-yoing, but that is far from the truth.”

Despite the news, Diaper confessed: “It’s going to be a great Wessex League.

“There’s going to be Winchester, Salisbury, AFC Portchester and us, which will make the league very strong.”