THE Basingstoke Town Limited board of directors met last week and agreed not to rebel against the Isthmian League's demand for £750 plus VAT to help pay their failed legal bid to halt non-league football restructuring.

Last month, the FA's rejection of the Isthmian League's arbitration left the league facing legal costs of around £75,000.

The Isthmian League then announced to member clubs it was imposing a ruling which meant they would have to help pay towards costs.

It has angered many managers and officials, including those at Basingstoke Town, because the likelihood of financial responsibility was never mentioned to clubs before the Isthmian League pursued the proceedings it did.

As a result, six member clubs have refused to pay up, and Town were among another six who were undecided.

But BTL vice-chairman Steve Murfitt told Talk of the Town what the club's stance is.

He said: "We are unhappy at having to pay the levy, and the undemocratic way it was imposed.

"We even think it's probably illegal, so the board met last Tuesday to talk over what we'd do.

"We discussed making an appeal to the FA, which would have cost £100, plus more money for FA people to come down to us.

"But we knew we didn't really have a chance of beating the league, so it would have been throwing good money after bad.

"Also, the costs were likely to just escalate.

"We decided we would pay, and the cheque went off last Thursday so the Easter post wouldn't delay its arrival."

With finances still very tight at the Camrose, Town made an appeal to Isthmian League secretary Nick Robinson to split the payment in two. He agreed to the request.

The deadline for clubs to pay was Tuesday, and Town have paid half. The rest will be paid in 28 days via a post-dated cheque that was sent with the first cheque.

Mr Murfitt said: "We asked Nick Robinson to look favourably on the club given the circumstances, although I had to argue our case because he asked about the wages we pay our players.

"I said that's totally different because we have entered into contracts with certain players, but he agreed to splitting payments eventually. It's a big help."

But Mr Murfitt said it is "ludicrous" Town face the possibility of cancelled matches against their next two scheduled opponents.

Aylesbury, due at the Camrose tomorrow, and Kingstonian, are two of the six Ryman clubs refusing to pay the levy.

Mr Robinson has said they will be automatically suspended if they don't pay.

Mr Murfitt said: "It's crazy. They've got clubs in a position where if you don't pay they can kick you out of the league, and if you do, you cannot finish the league programme!

"My own personal opinion is that because they have lost the case with the FA, they are putting the league in turmoil so that there's a mess for the FA and Conference to sort out when they take control."