Two-times champions Blackfield & Langley set to take voluntary relegation back into the Wessex League Premier Division

Rudy Plummer, left, was Blackfield's top scorer when they won the Southern League Division 1 South title in 2018/19. Pic: Ian Hargreaves.

Blackfield & Langley are expected to return to the Wessex League in 2020/21.

The two-times Premier Division champions have asked the FA for voluntary relegation after losing their main financial backer Sam Davies to AFC Totton.

Ex-Gosport Borough midfielder Glenn Howes, the manager who led the Watersiders from the Wessex into the Southern Premier League South in two seasons, subsequently followed Davies to Totton.

He quickly returned to Gang Warily to sign goalkeeper Lewis Noice and goalscoring midfielder Sam Griffin.

Liam Robinson struck 21 league goals when Blackfield won their second Wessex League Premier title in 2017/18. Picture: Ian Hargreaves

Noice was AFC Portchester’s Wessex League Cup semi-final hero against Blackfield in 2017/18 - saving three penalties in a shoot-out.

He also played in the final when the Royals defeated lower tier Fawley 4-0.

Under FA rules, voluntary relegation means a drop of two divisions.

Blackfield will replace Southampton-based Solent University, who earlier this month told the Wessex League they were withdrawing after nine seasons in the league (the first eight of them as Team Solent).

Alex Baldacchino, left, scored over 30 goals when Blackfield & Langley won their first Wessex Premier Division title in 2012/13. Picture: Keith Woodland

Blackfield were elected into the Wessex League for the 2000/01 season.

They had finished third the previous term in a Hampshire League table which also featured Locks Heath (2nd), Hayling United (9th), Horndean (14th) and Petersfield (17th).

Relegated to the second tier of Wessex football in 2004, Blackfield were back in the top flight by the start of 2009/10 under the guidance of former Pompey defender and Fareham boss Jon Gittens.

But he was controversially sacked just a few weeks into the 2010/11 season.

Lewis Noice, who has left Blackfield to join Glenn Howes at AFC Totton, pictured during his time at AFC Portchester. Picture: Neil Marshall.

Davies - the Blackfield director of football at the time - cited a ‘fundamental disagreement’ between him and Gittens about the first team’s style of play as the reason why ‘it was in the club’s best interests if Jon left.’

But, after dispensing with his services, Davies added: ‘Jon is an outstanding manager and has done a fantastic job at Blackfield.

‘When Jon went to Blackfield the club was pretty much bottom of Wessex One. It had no playing staff of any note, no football infrastructure, nothing. Jon has been utterly pivotal in rebuilding the playing side of the club.’