NORTH Leigh launched an extraordinary attack on their ladies side after deciding to scrap the team for the 2020/21 season.

The Millers came under fire yesterday after suddenly pulling their women’s team out of the Thames Valley Counties Women’s Football League.

In a lengthy statement, the club claimed the team failed to help maintain the pitch and ‘alienated’ new recruits.

Members of the North Leigh Ladies squad were informed on Thursday morning, with one player saying the announcement came ‘completely out of the blue’.

The Millers denied the decision was to make room for a new men’s team in the Witney & District FA league, adding that the formation of an Under 12 girls’ side last year showed it was an area they ‘hope to expand’.

Instead, they pointed to ‘a collective lack of club commitment from the team’, claiming that no members of the ladies set-up had attended a pitch maintenance session in the two years they had existed.

“We have had several reports over the two seasons of new players feeling alienated and made upset when joining the team, which has developed a very poor reputation,” the statement added.

“During the 2018/19 season, the decision was taken to fold the men’s Hellenic League side for similar reasons.”