MINETY have been forced to drop out of the league due to a shortage of players. The Division Two club have been going since 1987 but after months of struggling to field a team they decided it was time to call it a day.

They had already been forced to forfeit three matches this season due to unavailability of players and now a series of injuries to their existing members have made it impossible for them to carry on.

Minety were bottom of the table having failed to win any of the six games they played but they hope to return a stronger side next year.

Colin Cooper, fixtures secretary for the Wiltshire League, was sad to hear the news.

He said: "This whole season has been a struggle for them.

"We knew they were experiencing a few problems after forfeiting a few games.

"On top of their lack of players they have also recently had a number of injuries and this has forced them to drop out of the league.

"It's not the end for them though as they are hoping to reform and play in the league next year.

"It is always a shame when a team has to drop out of the league and we are keeping our fingers crossed that they will be able to recover from this."

All points gained in matches against Minety to date will be deleted and an amended table will appear next week.

On Saturday all league game were cancelled or abandoned because of the rain.

Said Cooper: "This is one of the very rare occasions, if not for the first time, that the weather had the final say in all scheduled matches.