BRIDGWATER Town will axe both its Reserve team and Ladies team at the end of the current season, in a move described as ‘essential to the survival of the club.’

The decision, announced at a club meeting on Monday night, has provoked an angry reaction from both supporters and current and ex-players – but a statement released by the club this afternoon, said it was based ‘entirely on finance.’

The statement said: “The committee has agreed to disband The Somerset County League side (Reserves) and the Ladies team at the end of the season.

“As a result the club will only maintain a Southern League and an under 18 (youth) team.

“This in turn will enable us to reduce our budget.

“These decisions are essential to the survival of the club and are based entirely on finance.

“Attendances at games have dropped dramatically over the last five or six years.

“There are only a handful of loyal supporters and sponsors.

“If the inhabitants of this town do not recognize the obvious fact that running a football club costs money - and understand what is happening, then it is destined to extinction.

“There are currently six or seven highly talented local players within the club and it is hoped to integrate these into the senior squad next season.

“These have been very difficult decisions for the club, and have generated an unnecessary amount of vitriol from the public and media.

“Unfortunately some of these comments are ill-informed and from people who have not attempted to obtain the true facts, and some who should know better.

“Informed criticism is acceptable, public support is necessary.

“We can assure you that there are some very good people working unrewarded for this club, they alone deserve better - all effort is aimed at survival.”

Bridgwater Town Reserves currently sit in tenth place in the Somerset County Premier Division, having won nine and drawn ten of their 28 games with a very youthful side.

Preston North End defender Scott Laird, who began his football career at Bridgwater Town, tweeted: “To get rid of the reserves will be a travesty.

"Like many other local lads I learnt my football playing for the reserves - and to stop that would be so disheartening to all the up and coming talent we have in the area.”