Desire to be top dogs behind switch

25 Jan 2018 By David Watters

EVO-STIK League Romulus have called Sutton Coldfield Town "great landlords" after announcing they were quitting Coles Lane to follow their successful academy to Castle Vale.

The Roms hailed the Royals on Thursday after taking the decision to re-locate to the Castle Vale Stadium to reinforce their identity as the most senior side playing at the 3G ground and play alongside their next generation of stars from the start of the 2018-19 campaign.

The EVO-STIK League South's Roms, who beat Wolverhampton Casuals 2-1 on Tuesday night to reach the semi-finals of the Walsall Senior Cup, announced their switch on social media, @Romulus_fc tweeting: "We’re leaving Coles Lane and from next season will be based at Castle Vale. Huge thanks to @SCTFC, who’ve been great landlords, but time to move on to our own HQ. Onwards, upwards."

The Roms were founded in 1979 and chairman Richard Evans told fans they couldn't thank the EVO-STIK League Premier Division's Royals enough for their support over the years.

Romulus chairman Richard Evans

Evans said: "Sutton [Coldfield Town] have been brilliant, and we can't thank them enough for their help and good will over the past few years. But this is a really exciting development for The Roms, and a new chapter in our short, but 'never a dull moment' history!"

He added: "Now we have to all knuckle down and make sure we kick-off next season in the same league we're in now. It's been a tough season, but we've made great progress over the past couple of months, and I'm confident we'll pull clear of the dreaded 'drop zone'."

The move leaves Sutton Coldfield Town chairman Nick Thurston looking for new tenants at their home and he told the club`s official Pitchero website they'd be missed.

In a statement on Thursday, he said: “We wish Richard Evans and his club all the very best for the remainder of this season and for the future. We are truly sorry to see them go."

Royals chairman Nick Thurston

He added: “We will, of course, be active in the next few weeks in finding a suitable replacement and expect to make an announcement shortly."

Images courtesy of thenonleaguefootballpaper.com & @Romulus_fc & @SCTFC/Twitter

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