Newark & Sherwood United have announced plans to step down from Step Five football, in a bid to return to Newark and rebuild as a community-focused club. Chairman Steff Wright says the move will help reconnect the team with local supporters and secure a more sustainable future.

Newark & Sherwood United have confirmed they have informed the Football Association of their intention to request voluntary relegation from the United Counties League.

The Step Five club say the move is part of a long-term plan to return football to Newark and rebuild stronger ties with the local community.

The decision follows several years of upheaval for the club, which has faced ongoing challenges since leaving its historic Lowfields ground. Originally founded as Worthington-Simpson, the club spent more than a century at the site before it was sold for development.

Since then, the club has led a nomadic existence—groundsharing at Basford before moving to Collingham and Harrowby following a takeover by businessman Steff Wright.

Despite efforts to secure a permanent home back in Newark, those plans have yet to materialise.

In a letter to supporters, chairman Steff Wright described the decision as “difficult but necessary,” saying the club’s current situation has left it disconnected from its roots.

“The last five seasons have not been easy… we’ve been playing our football away from Newark and while the team has continued to compete and achieve success on the pitch, we have all felt the impact of being disconnected from our community.”

The club now plans to step down to Step Seven for the 2026/27 season, with the aim of relocating to Coronation Park in Balderton.

Wright says the move will remove barriers associated with higher league ground requirements and allow the club to rebuild locally.

“While this may be viewed as a backwards step, we see it as the right step forward… it allows us to become a true community club again.”

As part of the transition, Wright has also confirmed he will step down as chairman at the end of the season.

“It has been an honour to serve in this role, but I believe this is the right moment to pass the baton locally.”

Local businessman Michael Hardy, who has been a director at the club for the past three years, will take over the role.

The club says a key focus moving forward will be rebuilding links with youth football in the town and strengthening the pathway from grassroots to senior level.

Wright added that securing a permanent ground in Newark remains a priority, describing it as central to the club’s long-term ambitions.

“When we do secure our own permanent ground, we will have all the key ingredients in place to rise through the leagues again.”

The move would likely see the current reserve side form the core of the new first team competing in the Notts Senior League.

For many supporters, it marks the end of an era, but the club insists it is also the beginning of a new chapter aimed at bringing football back to the heart of the community.

Club Statement: A new chapter for the Highwaymen.