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CHARD Town boss Stu Parris admitted the Robins "got away with it" after escaping relegation from the Toolstation League Premier Division.

But rather than celebrate the lifeline, Parris urged the club to use it as a catalyst to get their house in order both on and off the pitch.

At a league board meeting last week it was agreed that only one team rather than the proposed two would be demoted to the First Division.

That means a massive reprieve for Chard, who finished second from bottom after a miserable campaign.

"We were thinking we don't want to go down after all the hard work we put in getting up', but if we had gone down it would not have been the end of the world," said Parris, who found out about his side's escape in a league e-mail bulletin on Friday.

"Now we've got to start working hard to put right what we didn't do right last season."

The league's board decided the membership of the two divisions should remain at 21 each.

With Premier Division champions Truro City winning promotion to the Southern League and Backwell United requesting relegation from the First Division to the Somerset County League, Toolstation chiefs agreed to accept two teams from the pyramid below to make up the 42 membership.

Therefore, in accordance with league rules, Odd Down, who finished below Chard and bottom of the Premier Division, will be relegated.

The two top clubs in the First Division, champions Wellington and Sherborne Town, will be promoted.

"We looked at it and thought they would probably put us down and bring three teams up," said Parris.

"We hoped the teams below may not have the facilities to go up, but luckily we've got away with it."

The two teams coming up to the First Division will be a side promoted from the Somerset County League, to be confirmed when grading issues are settled, and Gillingham Town.

Gillingham have been accepted as members of the league but their move must be sanctioned by the FA.

All the ups and downs must be ratified at the Toolstation League's AGM at the Hand Stadium, home of Clevedon Town, on Thursday, June 5, but that is considered a formality.

Parris said steps had already been taken to improve Chard's off-the-field activity, but believes a restructure is needed so they can be "a little bit more organised and slick".

The boss said the fact the Robins had stayed up, with its operating cost benefits, would make it easier to complete necessary improvements to their Zembard Lane ground, such as increased seating capacity to satisfy league criteria.

He said: "If we can make the place more professional it will help us attract the players we want."

Parris said Chard's continuation in the Premier Division would act as a good bargaining tool to sign up players, both present and new.

"I'll be speaking to all the players to see what their plans are," he said.

"I've spoken to a number of them and a lot are keen to stay. We've just got to tie up a few loose ends."

Meanwhile, the Robins retained the Axminster Hospital Cup on Sunday after a Gary Spiller goal earned them a 1-0 win over Elmore in the final.

10:09am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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