Rescued Wrens to unveil saviour

Rainworth Miners Welfare are set to unveil their mystery saviour in the coming days after it was confirmed on Friday that they've been saved from taking voluntary relegation.

To stay debt free and secure the club's future, the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League club was due to drop down to Step 5 in August after seeing their shock request granted by the Football Association and Evo-Stik NPL last Friday. But after their plight won widespread sympathy and coverage, unnamed backers came forward this week to prompt an urgent request for a u-turn.

The Evo-Stik NPL First Division South outfit's plea to rip up their resignation letter was finally granted on Friday after a meeting of the FA's Leagues Committee following representations from the Evo-Stik NPL.

Delighted Wrens Chairman Kim Wright insists the club's new backers are in it for the 'long term' and not a 'quick fix'. As a result, he says Kevin Gee's already successful side can now look forward to competing on a more level financial playing field.

Wright said: "We took the initial decision for sound business reasons and with a heavy heart, since no-one within the club really wanted to take a voluntary drop. But we are fortunate in that our financial circumstances are now changing significantly for the better as a result of this very welcome development, for which we can only express our heartfelt thanks, and that the reason for our resignation no longer exists. I would like to welcome the new people on board, and wish them a long and happy association with our club."

Despite being a bitter pill to swallow, Rainworth's management committee won widespread praise for their decision to resign from the NPL rather than risk their future security from across Non-League football. Promoted into the NPL three years ago as runners-up in the Northern Counties East League, they are debt free despite spiralling wages costs and failing to attract significantly bigger crowds since promotion. Before their change in fortunes, they insisted they wouldn't allow the 'heart to rule the head', a stance labelled by many in the football community as 'sensible' and 'right' during tough economic times.