Rover Cowley, Oxfordshire Senior League champions just three seasons ago, have folded.

The club’s demise comes just four games into the new Premier Division campaign.

Club secretary Debbie Shirley explained that a lack of money had forced the club to pull out.

Rover were plunged into crisis two weeks before the start of the season when the management team of Chris Fontaine, Derek Measor and Sammy Mitchell quit to join Abingdon Town.

Clive Buckett stepped in as manager with Andrew Gorge player-coach.

But with last season’s players also moving on, they were left to field a very inexperienced side.

Shirley explained that they had attempted to keep the club alive, but despite their efforts it had proved too big a task.

“We were going up there as the reserves and two weeks before the start we were told we were the main team and you have to get players,” she said “We had no paperwork and no players, so we got anyone with a pair of football boots to start the season off.”

The club’s plight wasn’t helped as they picked up fines for adminstrative lapses and bookings on the pitch.

And Shirley explained that the final straw came when Rover Cowley Sports & Social Club asked for a signing on fee of £15 for each player.

“It is a shame really,” she added. “We didn’t have enough time to get ourselves going as a club.”

Measor, who has been connected with Rover for around 20 years, explained that he had moved on with Fontaine and Mitchell as they hadn’t received support from Rover Sports & Social Club in their bid to join the Hellenic League.

“It is a lovely club with a nice pitch and facilities, but we didn’t seem to have the backing from the (social) club,” he said.

“It is a shame because I have been there so many years. The first season I have left the club it has folded.”

League chairman Ronald Middleton commented: “We are very disappointed by it. We are always reluctant to see clubs go.”

Rover’s case will be discussed at a league meeting next Tuesday.

But it seems certain their record will be expunged.

Rover Sports & Social Club were holding a meeting last night at which the football club’s demise was expected to be discussed.