Following an emergency meeting at the club on Monday evening, Penryn Athletic have decided to withdraw from the South West Peninsula West Division with immediate effect.

Their withdrawal letter to the league stated that the loss of the majority of their first team squad left them feeling they would be unable to field a team strong enough to compete at that level.

A host of players have departed the club in recent weeks, six of whom have signed for neighbours Falmouth Town.

Sean Johnston and captain Ben Oliver also called time on their careers at Kernick at the end of last season.

The league are saddened to see Penryn leave, especially as they were founder members and provided great facilities for visiting teams and regularly won awards in both Fair Play & Ground categories.

The West Division will run with 17 teams for the new season, as the league is unable to replace them after the annual meeting.

Fixtures will be updated on the league website in the coming days but with an odd team in the division its unlikely to see many new games arranged, rather clubs having a week off when they had been due to play Penryn.

Over the next few days the senior officers of the league will decide on an appropriate fine, which has been incurred by the club for withdrawing after the annual meeting has taken place.

League secretary Phil Hiscox said: "We accept that Penryn Athletic have made their decision with a great deal of thought and we wish them well for the future where they will take the place of their reserves in the Combination League."

Penryn's reaction to this news will be in tomorrow's edition of the Falmouth Packet.