All Clubs wishing to remain in membership of the Competition for the following Season must confirm their intention to do so, in writing, to the Competition Secretary by completing the Club
Re-newal/continuing Membership Form by 1st June in each year.

(B) A Club shall not be allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition after the Annual General Meeting for the following Season.
(i) Any Club infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £500.00 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under League Rule 5(B).
(ii) Any Club infringing this Rule and not disbanding before the fixtures have commenced shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £500.00 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be made under League Rule 5(B).
(iii) Any Club infringing this Rule and disbanding before the fixtures have commenced cannot be fined but will be liable for their financial commitments prior to disbanding.

(C) The Membership for the coming season having been decided at a Special General Meeting held for that purpose not earlier than 1st June nor later than10th July or at the Annual General Meeting held not later than 20th June the Competition shall have the right, irrespective of other provisions in this Rule, to refuse to permit a Club to withdraw its team(s) in order to join another Competition and may hold the Club to its engagements.

(D) In the event of a Member Club which is an un-incorporated association withdrawing and/or disbanding it shall be immediately liable to discharge all its financial and other obligations to the Competition.

In the event that any such obligation remains undischarged after a period of twenty-one (21) days then such obligation shall be met by the then current Club Members, excluding those under the statutory school leaving age. Until a Member’s pro rata obligation is discharged in full the Member shall not be allowed to participate in the Competition, which may apply to the Club’s Parent County Association for a suspension order.

If the debts remain unpaid after eighty four (84) days the Competition may apply to the Club’s Parent County Association for the debt to be recovered in accordance with the FA Debt Recovery System. Once the matter has been passed to the Club’s Parent County Association the debt can only be cleared by payment to that County Association.

PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS

15. (A)(i) All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretations of the Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee.

(ii) Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match. Any Club lodging such protest and not proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Rule and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.

(B) Except in cases where the Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances, protests and complaints (which must contain full particulars of the grounds upon which they are founded) must be lodged in duplicate with the Secretary within three (3) days (excluding Sundays) of the match or occurrence to which they refer. A protest or complaint shall not be withdrawn except by permission of the Management Committee. A Member of the Management Committee who is a member of any Club involved shall not be present (except as a witness or representative of his Club) when such protest or complaint is being determined.

(C) Any dispute occurring between Clubs in the Competition shall be referred for determination by the Management Committee whose decision shall be binding upon all parties subject to League Rule 16.

(D) No protest of whatever kind shall be considered by the Management Committee unless the complaining Club shall have deposited with the Competition Secretary a sum of £50.00. This may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event of the complaining or protesting Club losing its case. The Competition shall have power to order the defaulting Club or the Club making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses of the enquiry or to order that the costs to be shared by the parties.

(E) All parties to a protest or complaint must receive a copy of the submission and must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement at least seven (7) days prior to the protest or complaint being heard.
(i) All parties to a protest or complaint must receive seven (7) days notice of the hearing should they be instructed to attend.
(ii) Should a Club elect to state its case in person then they should forward a deposit of £100.00 and indicate such when forwarding the written response.

BOARD OF APPEAL

16. Within fourteen (14) days of the posting of written notification of any decision of the Management Committee or the Competition, a Club, Official or Player against whom action is taken may appeal against such decision by lodging particulars in duplicate with the Secretary of the Hampshire Football Association, including the stipulated fee, for adjudication of a Board of Appeal. The grounds of appeal shall be in accordance with FA Rules. The Board of Appeal may order the appeal fee to be forfeited and shall decide by whom the costs of the appeal shall be borne. The decision of the Board of Appeal is final and binding on all parties concerned.

No appeal can be lodged against a decision taken at an Annual or Special General Meeting unless this is on the ground of unconstitutional conduct.

EXCLUSION OF CLUBS.OR TEAMS MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS

17. (A) At the Annual General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for the purpose, Notice of Motion having been duly circulated on the Agenda, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any Club or Team from further membership which must be supported by (more than) two thirds (2/3rds) of those present and voting. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot.

(B) At the Annual General Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, in accordance with the provisions of League Rule 19, the accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude from further participation in the Competition any Club whose conduct has, in their opinion, been undesirable, which must be supported by (more than) two-thirds (2/3rds) of those present and voting. Voting on this point shall be conducted by ballot. A Club whose conduct is the subject of the vote being taken shall be excluded from voting.

(C) Any official or member of a Club proved guilty of either a breach of Rule, other than field offences, or of inducing or attempting to induce a player or players of another Club in the Competition to join them shall be liable to expulsion or such penalty as a General Meeting or Management Committee may decide, and their Club shall also be liable to expulsion in accordance with the provisions of Clauses (A) and (B) of this Rule.

(D) Any Club or Team failing to complete 95% of its fixtures in any season shall (unless the conditions are beyond their control, or the accredited delegates present at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting decide otherwise by a majority of two-thirds (2/3rds) of the votes cast) be debarred from membership the following season.

TROPHY:- LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER, AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED. AWARDS.

18. (A) If a Competition is discontinued for any reason a Trophy or any other presentation shall be returned to the Donor if the conditions attached to it so provide or, if not, dealt with as the sanctioning Association may decide.

(B)The following agreement shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or Trophy:-

“We A_________________and B______________________, the Chairman and Secretary of ________________________FC, members of and representing the Club, having been declared winners of _____________________Cup or Trophy, and it having been delivered to us by the Competition, do hereby on behalf of the Club jointly and severally agree to return the Cup or Trophy to the Competition Secretary on or before 31st January in each year. If the Cup or Trophy is lost or damaged whilst under our care we agree to refund to the Competition the amount of its current value or the cost of its thorough repair.”

(C) At the close of each Competition 16 awards may be made to the winners and runners-up if the funds of the Competition permit.

(D) A Club failing to return a Cup/Trophy by the date due shall be fined the sum of £40.00 plus £10.00 for each week or part week after that date until returned to the Competition Secretary.

(E) A Cup/Trophy may only be retained for the agreed period by the Club if it can show that it is adequately insured.

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS

19. Upon receiving a requisition signed by two-thirds (2/3rds) of the Clubs in membership the Competition Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting.

The Management Committee may call a Special General Meeting at any time.

At least seven (7) days notice shall be given of either meeting under this Rule, together with an agenda of the business to be transacted at such meeting.
Each Member Club shall be empowered to send two (2) delegates to all Special General Meetings. Each Club shall be entitled to one (1) vote only, as will members of the Management Committee.

Any continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £50.00.

Officers and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special General Meetings.

ALTERATION TO RULES

20. Alterations shall be made to these Rules only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting specially convened for the purpose called in accordance with League Rule 19. Any alteration made during the playing season to the Rule relating to the qualification of players shall not take effect until the following season.

Notice of proposed alterations to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be submitted to the Secretary by 1st February in each year. The proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be circulated to the Clubs by 1st March and any amendments thereto shall be submitted to the Secretary by 15th March. The proposals and proposed amendments thereto shall be circulated to Clubs with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. A proposal to change a Rule shall be carried if two thirds (2/3rds) of those present and entitled to vote are in favour. A copy of the proposed alteration to Rule to be considered at the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting shall be submitted to the Hampshire FA Ltd. by 1st April in each year.

Leagues desiring to alter or amend their Rules, must submit such proposed alterations to The Hampshire Football Association by 1st April each year for approval or otherwise, and until approval is given no such alteration must be put to any AGM or EGM called for the purpose.

FINANCE

21. (A) The Management Committee shall determine with which bank or other financial
Institution the funds of the Competition will be lodged.

(B) All expenditure in excess of £100.00 shall be approved by the Management Committee. Cheques shall be signed by at least two (2) Officers nominated by the Management Committee.

(C) The financial year of the Competition will end on 31st December.

(D) The books, or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall be verified annually by some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.