THE new South Peninsula Football League may be seen as the future for some clubs, but Porthleven, at present, do not subscribe to that view and have decided not to go ahead with an application to play in the Premier League.
Instead, the Fishermen see the Cornwall I (West) division as the league that best meets their playing and financial needs.
It is a bold step for the Gala Parc club to take, but chairman Neil Clark is convinced that the decision is the correct one for his club.
By making the decision early Clark also feels that other clubs who have reservations about players, especially in the western half of the county unable to make the longer trips, and the financial implications involved, will give clubs the opportunity to make a proper assessment of the situation.
Chairman Neil Clark said: "After careful consideration by club officials, the club's committee and after consultation with players, supporters and senior members of the club, it has been decided that we will not be applying to join the premier division of the new South West Peninsula League for 2007/08.
"We acknowledge that last September, along with 15 other teams in the current Carlsberg South Western League, we expressed an interest to join the premier league, but the latest details on how the league will operate and its geographical make up, have raised serious concerns regarding our participation in the premier division.
"Whilst we understand the aspirations of the FA and Cornwall and Devon FAs to introduce a new pyramid system, this can only be achieved by having a promotion and relegation system that works at all levels. History has proved (Truro City apart) that it is not financially viable to step outside of the Devon and Cornwall conclave to play league football. Falmouth, Liskeard and more recently Saltash, are perfect examples of clubs, who have tried and unfortunately failed.
"Therefore, it is difficult to see any club seeking promotion from the new step six level, and questions the need for change as all we have done is redrawn the current South Western League playing boundaries to include the whole of Devon."
This boundary change, according to Mr Clark, is to the detriment of West Cornwall clubs and is the main stumbling block to their participation in the new premier league. The additional financial burden placed upon the club is the over-riding factor in the decision not to move into the new league. It is that coupled with the players' concerns over travelling times, and the possibility of losing Saturday work due to a 10.30am departure that has led them to making the decision to join the new Cornwall West 1 League and not the premier division.
"We have and we will continue to have, a team based on West Cornwall players," said Mr Clark. "The new premier league leans towards teams recruiting from the Plymouth and Devon areas to save on players' expenses. It is our decision to remain with our current squad of players and within the budget set by the club officials."
Asked what he would say to those people who said the club lacks ambition by not entering into the new premier division, Mr Clark was quite forthright in his view "First and foremost I would like to say that this time last year, I, along with all the other club chairmen and vice- chairmen attended a meeting at St Blazey FC to discuss the forming of the new league. The opening paragraph in the league's pamphlet read: The reason that the new league was not introduced earlier, was the reluctance of some chairmen to commit their clubs to a financial burden.'.
"Unfortunately, due to our geographical location and the additional travelling expenses that we will incur, along with the additional administrative cost of participating at this level, it doesn't meet the budgets set by the club. That is not to say that should in future years if we win our league, we have a good enough squad and the money is there, that we will not look to take part in the premier division, we will assess the position again.
"Already we have undertaken some minor ground improvements and the remainder of these improvements will be concluded in the close season, to meet the standards required to play at Step 6."
Having outlined the reasons for not joining the league, what would he say to those who say "But that's what we used to do 20 years ago."
"I have heard this said on many occasions," said Mr Clark, "but all I can say is that times change and players' attitude change. Whether I like it or not, the driving factor is money. If we cannot offer a player a decent incentive to play at this level, there is always another club who is going to match our offer without the travelling time."
Quite clearly to be able to compete in the new SW Peninsula League will need plenty of financial support, but that support has to be sustained and it is a position that Porthleven have thought through very carefully.
They intend to play their football in a league where they know they can meet their budget and to compete outside that arena would put the club's survival at risk. That is something they are not prepared to do.
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