MEDWAY looks certain to have a new Sunday football league in place for the start of next season after the Rochester and District Saturday competition confirmed they are ready to launch a Sunday section for the start of the 2008-09 campaign.

League secretary Terry Lawrence confirmed the decision had been taken in response to demand from existing Medway Messenger Sunday League clubs prepared to defect and was confident of running with two or three divisions next season.

A meeting to gauge interest was held on Thursday at Gillingham's Sturdee Avenue Club and Mr Lawrence confessed he was surprised by the attendance.

He said: "Every one of the clubs represented pledged support for the new competition and I want to emphasise that we have not approached clubs, they have come to us. What's more support for the idea is gathering momentum.

"I have yet to go to the main Rochester and District League Council to get their approval but I believe they will give their blessing. In other words it will go ahead. We have dipped our toe in the water and been surprised how warm the water has been.

"We have another meeting on Tuesday, March 18 when we will assess the strength of support."

Medway Messenger Sunday League chairman Alan Barty retorted: "We have had some indication of what's been going on but until our next committee meeting on Tuesday week, I am not prepared to comment."