Winchester City have been dealt a sickening blow - just days before the weekend's FA Vase final.

Despite romping away with the Sydenhams Wessex League title at the first time of asking, the crestfallen Hampshire club have been overlooked for promotion.

Winchester, who face AFC Sudbury at Birmingham's St Andrews ground on Sunday (3pm), have missed the boat because their Abbotts Barton ground was not up to standard by the April 1 deadline.

In the eyes of David Malone, City's director of football, the Vase finalists have fallen victim of the general mayhem and misinformation that has dogged the FA restructuring coming into play next season.

He said: "Initially we had the FA come down in January and tell us we had a year to get our grading, then the Wessex League told us we had to have hardstanding for 100 people, which we didn't need at all. At the death the Southern League came in and said all we needed was a closed fence and a few alterations to the clubhouse, which we've done now, but it's too late.

"If someone had told us in January or February exactly what we needed to do, we'd have moved heaven and earth to achieve it. This just highlights the inconsistency of football administration."

Malone has been less than impressed with the support the club have received from football's hierarchy but, if anything, it has strengthened his resolve to win Sunday's final.

He said: "I don't want anyone feeling sorry for us. We've got where we are with no help from anyone and we'll get over this with no help from anyone. We're sturdy people and I'm confident the club will make waves in the right direction in the future.

"I'd like to think this will give us more resolve to go out and win the Vase and show these people what they're missing.

"If you take the Vase as a yardstick of progress of clubs at our level, we've proved we rank among the best in the country.

"AFC Wimbledon are the only other team with a playing record anything like ours, but football goes on a back burner because other things are considered more important.

"I'm extremely disappointed and I expect Neil (manager Neil Hards) and the players to be, but to a man, we're winners and I'm certain we'll go up to Birmingham and have the weekend of our lives.

"We've been sent a good luck letter from Portsmouth Football Club today and I'd appeal to everyone in the region to forget their prejudices and get behind us."

It looks like disappointment too for Fleet Town, who are almost certain to drop back into the Wessex League - despite being told two weeks ago by the Dr Martens League that there would be no relegation from the DML Eastern Division!

Their only hope rests with Kent League champions Cray Wanderers, who must satisfy the FA of their groundshare arrangements with Bromley before sealing their place in the new South Eastern Division.

Malone commented: "Fleet's situation proves what a fiasco it all is. One minute they're down, the next they're not and then they are again. What a way to go on!"

In the event that Fleet are relegated, it will pose problems for the Wessex League, who will be overstocked with 23 clubs if both VT FC (Hampshire League) and Hamworthy United (Dorset Premier League) are promoted.

Rather than disappoint either VT or Hamworthy, the Wessex may decide to run with 23 Division 1 clubs when they finalise the 2004/5 constitution on Friday night. They may even seek FA permission to run with 24 clubs, which would mean a reprieve for second-to-bottom Blackfield & Langley.

Gosport Borough's first-team coach Hugh Doyle is quitting Privett Park to replace Dave Hawtin as manager of SWL outfit Alton Town.