WORCESTER Olympic has withdrawn from the Cheltenham Association Football League two months after reforming.

The Brickfields outfit, risen from the ashes of AFC Worcester Olympic, completed its ninth and seemingly final fixture on Saturday, a 7-4 home reverse to Newton.

Player-boss Ashley Banner stood down last month but secretary and stand-in manager Tom Stone insisted the players would be "sticking around" less than three weeks ago.

However, league fixture secretary John Hunt confirmed Olympic’s forthcoming fixtures had been wiped from the schedule following the club’s decision to quit.

“An email came through to the league secretary saying to save any embarrassment or fines that they wanted to withdraw,” said Hunt.

“We have postponed their fixtures. The formal withdrawal has to be done by the Gloucestershire FA unless there is anything else we can do.

“It is a shame because there is very little Saturday football in Worcester and none at that level.

“If they had asked for a bit of a grace period then we could have talked about it but they didn’t.”

The league's fine for quitting mid-season is £100 and comes with a three-year ban from entering a new side, although Hunt indicated that may not be enforced dependent on circumstances.

“That rule is there to prevent teams from dropping out but we want as many teams as possible to play in the Cheltenham League,” he added.

“The bottom line is that it is down to the management committee. If they want to accept a club at the AGM, they can. We want to help everyone to succeed.”

AFC Worcester Olympic, ran by different people, played in the West Midlands Regional League (WMRL) before a lack of cash and players forced their withdrawal in 2015.

With Worcester City being exiled, it leaves Worcester Raiders, currently second in WMRL Division One, as the only senior men’s side playing in the city on Saturdays.

Olympic secretary Tom Stone was not available for comment.