Walton & Hersham FC have officially lodged a complaint with the Football Association concerning the conduct of Billy Rowley, former Walton & Hersham manager and current Yeovil Town First Team Manager.
The complaint stems from what Walton & Hersham describe as “repeated approaches” by Rowley towards players under contract at Walton & Hersham. Notably, these interactions reportedly occurred during the club’s end-of-season staff event, where Rowley attended alongside Yeovil Town’s Head of Recruitment—an unwelcome presence according to Walton & Hersham’s ownership.
Further issues in the complaint include allegations of inappropriate and threatening correspondence sent directly to Walton & Hersham’s management, involving profane language and disparaging remarks publicly made about the club, its owners, and officials. Walton & Hersham also highlight that these attempts to contact contracted players have disrupted player retention and contract negotiations.
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Among the players involved is midfielder Mason Obeng, who recently declined a new contract offer from Walton & Hersham. The club claims that Yeovil Town subsequently made a formal offer for Obeng, adding to the tensions.
Walton & Hersham have submitted detailed evidence to the Football Association, including statements and documentation supporting their claims. They express disappointment that their concerns were not adequately addressed through private discussions, prompting the decision to make the complaint public.
A club statement reads:
“We confirm the submission of a formal complaint to The Football Association regarding Mr Billy Rowley’s conduct. This follows a series of incidents causing significant unease within our club management and ownership. These include unauthorized approaches to our contracted players, disruptive engagement during our staff event—despite clear instructions—and inappropriate communication directed at our owners. We remain committed to safeguarding the integrity of Walton & Hersham FC and expect the highest standards of conduct within football. We will not provide further comment at this time but are prepared to cooperate fully with the relevant authorities.”
Yeovil Town FC has yet to respond publicly to the allegations.