Stanley Road, the winners of five major trophies last season, have withdrawn from the Bradford Sunday Alliance League and fired a broadside at league chiefs claiming they have not helped the club.

All seemed well earlier this year when the club was looking forward to life in the Premier Division after being promoted at the end of their unbeaten Division One campaign.

They even completed their five-trophy tally last month by beating Silsden at Cougar Park to win the County Charity Shield. They had already won the County Cup, Bradford & District Cup, Sunday Alliance Senior Cup and the Alliance Division One Trophy.

But the club failed to fulfill two of its fixtures this season and was still having problems raising a side.

Club secretary Mick Rayner said: "I have been running Stanley Road for 30 years. The league told us 'three strikes and you're out' so we have withdrawn from the Bradford Sunday Alliance.

"All the players from last season have stayed with us but they have just not had the same commitment. The team was good enough to compete in the English Trophy and do well. But I couldn't seem to get them motivated this season. It's off the field as well, I couldn't get a committee together or any help.

"I was disappointed with the League. Why didn't they offer us any help? Why didn't they offer us two weeks to get it sorted out? I think I could have turned things around.

"They had no compassion. We have players coming back from injury but they did not want to encourage us. I was disappointed and upset."

But it may not be the end of Stanley Road. Rayner added: "I am keeping the club's registration open. We are still affiliated with the county until the end of the season.

"I may well renew it and operate from the Wharfedale League. The Bradford league has a restriction of 40 players for a club. I don't think that is nearly enough. There is no restriction in the Wharfedale League - you can sign as many players as you like."

League secretary Pat Goodall said: "People are here to play football. You can't have people turning up to grounds and there is no opposition turning up.

"Mick Rayner told us the people who were behind his two-year plan pulled out after one year.

"He has had every support from us and he knows that."