Rebel executive members of the MP Sports Cherwell League have denied they have turned a deaf ear to clubs.

They have sent out the message as they bid to overthrow chairman Clive Ricks at an extraordinary general meeting at Rover Cowley Sports & Social Club on Monday, February 7 (7.30pm).

The gang of eight rebels have forced the EGM, having passed a vote of no confidence in Ricks at an executive meeting.

And now they have written to the clubs – who will vote on whether they want a management group headed by the chairman or the rebel executive members to run the league – to deny the accusations made against them by their opponents.

In the letter, league secretary Peter Tomlin, a member of the gang of eight, stated: “Despite the unfounded accusations made by individuals without any knowledge or understanding of the past three years, we reject the constant statements that have been made – that the executive have not listened to the clubs in the past and are still not doing so for 2011.”

Tomlin’s statement comes in connection with meetings of the league’s rules and registration sub-committee, which took place before the executive became suspended.

The executive have also come under fire for failing to issue the fixtures for this year.

But Tomlin added: “We would also like to point out that the fixture secretary (John Pearson) has been unable to complete fixtures for the coming season as the league still do not have full information regarding the final number of teams who will be playing in 2011.”

When contacted by the Oxford Mail for his wider views on the ongoing saga, Tomlin – like fellow rebel Don Brooks – preferred to keep his own counsel.

“I am not making any comment on my behalf or the league’s behalf,” he said.