Rushden & Diamonds fail in Evo-Stik Southern Premier bid

Rushden & Diamonds have been denied entry to the Evo-Stik Southern Premier.

The Northamptonshire side were expelled from the Conference earlier in the summer for financial reasons.

The Diamonds have now also failed to satisfy Southern Premier officials of their ability to compete in their competition next season.

In a statement the league said the club had "failed to meet the conditions for entry into the league by the due date of 6 July".

The blow is the latest in a series of crippling events for the Diamonds who, after being ejected from the Conference, were put into administration on Wednesday.