Ebbsfleet United chief executive Damian Irvine and Maidstone United co-owner Oliver Ash sign letter calling for reversal of decision to scrap FA Cup replays

Two prominent figures in Kent football have signed a letter calling for an “immediate reinstatement of FA Cup replays”.

Ebbsfleet chief executive Damian Irvine and Maidstone co-owner Oliver Ash are among 23 signatories of a joint-club letter to the FA.

Earlier this month, it was announced that first-round replays would be scrapped from next season.

The move was roundly condemned by Football League and non-league clubs, who said they had not been consulted on the measures, although the National League themselves backed the decision in a letter to their clubs.

While the Premier League big boys get their way, smaller clubs are denied potentially money-spinning replays and a lifetime of memories.

The Fair Game group of clubs, of which Ebbsfleet and Maidstone are members, along with four-time FA Cup winners Bolton Wanderers, have urged the FA to reverse their “flawed” decision.

They have also called for parliament to intervene via an amendment to the Football Governance Bill to stop such a decision from being taken again without the backing of the majority of clubs.

Here is the letter in full:

“The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world and the decision to remove FA Cup replays from the first-round proper further undermines its prestige and does nothing to help protect our cherished football pyramid.

“The Premier League’s influence in this decision is yet another example of football’s growing divide that has seen the gaps between and within divisions grow at all levels.

“Participating clubs in the FA Cup were not consulted. Our clubs as well as the fans have been let down.

“We are determined to see this decision reversed and fully support amending the Football Governance Bill to make sure such a move can