Frome won’t travel to Maidstone for tonight’s FA Trophy tie - but say they aren’t withdrawing from the competition.

The government and FA ruled the third-round tie could go ahead at the Gallagher despite Frome’s concerns over playing in a Tier 4 area.

But Town have decided not to travel and have called for the fixture to be rearranged.

It seems unlikely the FA will agree to that, so it could yet be that Maidstone are granted a bye into round four and a home clash with Dorking.

A Frome statement said: “As a club our first thoughts have to be with the players, staff and officials of both teams who will be forced to play a match in Tier 4 against wider government regulations.

"As a ‘non-elite’ team, we do not accept the decision of both bodies given all the news coverage and medical expert advice given.

"We will not put families and lives at stake.

"It’s clear that no football match outside of the top level is Covid-safe.

"We will not demand that our players travel in separate cars across the country to a Tier 4 area.

"We have no clear clarification on the insurance procedures and coverage either.

"We’ve also been truly shocked by some of the wider fan comments who have a very reckless view on Covid and its effects. But more disappointed at the collective decision that has been made.

"We are not withdrawing from the competition, and believe the FA can still make a sensible decision to postpone until it is safe to play. We will await further communication from the FA."

Frome yesterday wrote an open letter to the FA criticising the scheduling of the fixture.

Read more: The latest sports news in Kent