BROMSGROVE Rovers will only run a first team next season after the administrators pulled the plug on the reserves and the youth set-up.

Mayfields Insolvency Practitioners in Halesowen -- who still maintain a wall of silence despite repeated attempts by the Advertiser/Messenger to contact them -- have reportedly dumped the two sides on the orders of Rovers prospective owner, Tom Herbert, in a bid to cut costs.

Bromsgrove boss Steve Daniels refused to comment on the decision to abolish the sides, but the decision almost certainly leaves Rovers youth academy, planned for September, on the soccer scrapheap.

It was hoped the academy, in a link-up with South Birmingham College, in Hall Green, would give the club's youth team a boost after they came bottom in the Premier Division of the Midland Floodlit Youth League last season. The reserves finished second from bottom of the Midland Combination Reserve Division.

Chairman and treasurer of the Midland Combination League David Prust confirmed that when the Midland Combination met on June 18 to agree the compilation of their league, they had already been told by "people at Bromsgrove Rovers" that they would not be entering a team in the reserve division.

Midland Floodlit Youth League officials also confirmed that Rovers have not requested to enter a team in their league for next season, after they held their AGM on Monday June 25.

Spanish holiday

Meanwhile, Herbert is reported to have gone on holiday to Spain for a week and is due to return tomorrow.

Talks will then resume over his proposed purchase of chief executive Pat Bannister's 80 per cent stake in the club.

Both were unavailable for comment as the Advertiser/Messenger went to press.

l Daniels's crop of new players turned up for pre-season training last night knowing their first FA Cup tie is against Stamford-based outfit Blackstone.

The Greens travel to the United Counties League Premier Division outfit for the preliminary round match on Saturday September 1. Rovers received a bye into the first round proper of this season's FA Vase after switching from the FA Trophy.

Daniels has added another striker to his squad by signing Paul Moore from Stourport Swifts. Midland Football Alliance secretary Peter Dagger confirmed registration for first team players takes place throughout July, ahead of the season's start on Saturday August 11.