Club requests to be relegated from league regardless of final position

Hashtag United have requested to be relegated from the Isthmian League Premier Division, even if they stay up this season.

The seventh-tier club currently sit one point above the drop zone with six matches remaining.

Instagram @hashtagutd

However, they will drop out of the division regardless of their final league position if the Football Association approves their request.

The Tags, who achieved their highest-ever league finish of eighth last season, have written to the Isthmian League asking to be relegated.

It comes ahead of their trip to Dartford this weekend as the season approaches its conclusion.

Hashtag are 18th in the table, one place above the relegation zone, although Welling United are just a point behind with a game in hand.

Isthmian League statement

The Isthmian League confirmed their request in a statement released on Wednesday.

It read: “The Isthmian League has received a written request from Hashtag United FC for the club to be relegated from Step 3 whether or not the club finishes in a relegation position.

“The club has also notified the Football Association of its request and it is the FA which will make the final decision on the request.

“The league is not in a position to make a clear statement as to what will happen but the usual situation where a club resigns during a season is that the club is treated as a relegated club and the club finishing fourth from bottom is reprieved.

“However, as stated, this decision can only be made by the FA and we will notify clubs as soon as that decision has been made and communicated to us.”

Hashtag founder Spencer Carmichael-Brown has vowed the move is ‘not a relegation, it’s a revolution’.

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The YouTuber responded to the Isthmian League’s statement in a lengthy message to supporters on the club’s social media accounts.

In a post shared to X, he said: “What comes next, we will show you rather than tell you. We’ll attract plenty of naysayers, I’m sure.

“But fortunately, spending a decade running a football club called Hashtag United has made me fairly comfortable with being uncomfortable.

“The results won’t be instant, it may take some time. But we are committed to delivering on our goals and changing the game in the process.

“We are taking a big swing, but that’s the only way you get a home run.

“We are on a mission to make football fun again. Thank you for choosing us. We intend to keep deserving it. Up the Tags.”

Hashtag were founded by Carmichael-Brown in 2016 and joined the English football pyramid two years later.

Having started in the tenth-tier, they secured three promotions in five years to reach the Isthmian League Premier Division.

The club also reached the final of the Isthmian League Cup in the 2023/24 campaign.

Meanwhile, last season saw Hashtag reach the third round of the FA Trophy, their best-ever run in the competition.

Currently based in Essex, the Tags currently play at Aveley’s Parkside stadium.

However, they are set to begin a groundshare with east London-based side Redbridge from this summer.