BARTESTREE have resigned from the Midlands Football League and folded their first team in a bid to bring the club closer together.

Following the resignation of first team manager Dave Cadwallader the club have decided to focus on bringing their junior players through to adult football by fielding two sides in the Herefordshire League.

Last season Bartestree Reserves, who will become the sides new first team, finished eighth in the Herefordshire Division One and a new side will enter Division Two, aimed at linking the clubs senior and junior sides.

"Our reserves will become our first team and will be managed by Nathan Scott," said Bartestree chairman David Matthews.

"We had toyed with the idea of applying to move into the Herefordshire Premier but they finished mid-table last season and despite us looking to improve we thought it would be unfair to get a promotion place.

"Our under-17s from last season will move up to the Herefordshire Division Two to form a senior team. This will then act as a link team between our senior and junior set-up.

"There was a big jump between our under-17 and reserves so now with this link team it will feel like one club.

"It is a step backwards to go forwards and we will be saving a lot of money. However, we do have ambitions to go back and join a regional league in the future."

Last season Bartestree had a successful season finishing sixth in the The Midlands Football League Division Three.

They were also beaten finalists in the league’s Challenge Vase and reached the semi-final in the HFA County Challenge Cup.

Several of that side including Lewis Clarke, Jason Davies, Levi Ellis, Harry Waybourne, Miles and Mark Langford and Michael Burgess have moved with Cadwallader to play for Pegasus Juniors next season.

Matthews said that the Tree had applied to join the Hellenic League until Cadwallader resigned.

"When Dave (Cadwallader) moved we decided to build the club up and look at the finances," added Matthews.

"Some of the team are going with him but some are staying with us. Dave was the driving force behind the team and the club were behind him by raising funds.

"If he had stayed we would have carried on in that league or the Hellenic. Once he went we decided to put a few things right as the juniors weren't filtering through.

"We are sad to see Dave go as we had a great time following the team around the Midlands with him and we would like to thank him for the good times.

"Without Dave we wouldn't have got funding for the hard-standing around the pitch and spectator shelter and we have now got nice facilities.

"We are now in a situation where we are looking to bring together different aspects of the club."