THE FOOTBALL CONFERENCE has today been informed by the FA that Rushden & Diamonds' appeal against expulsion from membership of the Football Conference has been withdrawn.

Tuesday's hearing has therefore been cancelled and the decision to expel Rushden has been ratified.

A full statement by Conference chairman Brian Lee will be issued at 11am tomorrow (Tuesday).

The decision also means that the 2011/12 fixtures for all three of the Football Conference divisions will now be issued at the same time, as originally scheduled.

Truro City kick off their pre-season friendlies on July 12, taking on near-neighbours Falmouth Town for the Aubrey Wilkes Trophy.

The Blue Square Bet South newcomers then host Yeovil Town on July 16 before heading to Tiverton Town on July 19. The Tigers' pre-season build up continues with games against QPR (h) on July 23, Plymouth Argyle (a) on July 27, Torquay United (h) on July 30 and concludes with their Southern League Trophy match at home to Hednesford Town on August 6.

Dover Athletic have turned down a request by striker Adam Burchill to be placed on the transfer list. The 26-year-old, who has two seasons left to run on his contract, is wanted by Blue Square Bet Premier side Newport County. However, Athletic chairman Jim Parmenter described a written bid tabled by the Welsh club as 'derisory.'

Bromley FC are set to face a near full-strength Gillingham side on Saturday (July 9). The Football League side are expected to field new arrival Danny Kedwell, who has signed from AFC Wimbledon, along with ex-Millwall defender Andy Frampton and former Wycombe Wanderers midfielder Lewis Montrose.

Eastleigh kick off their pre-season matches on Tuesday evening (July 5) away at Winchester City. The Spitfires have confirmed that former Salisbury City player Kevin Braybrook has taken over as first team coach following the recent departures of Paul Williams and Matt Gray.

Braybrook, who made more than 100 appearances for the Whites, initially joined Eastleigh earlier this year as head of recruitment.

Salisbury City, whose players reported back to training today (Monday), have confirmed that highly-regarded utility player Charlie Knight has agreed a new deal keeping him with the Whites until end of the 2011/12 campaign.

Basingstoke Town have been drawn away to either Hartley Wintney or Team Solent in the second round of this season's Hampshire Senior Cup. The tie is due to be played on Tuesday, October 11. 'Stoke have added a pre-season friendly at Thatcham Town on August 2 (7.45pm)

Pre-season Friendlies

JULY

Tuesday, 5

Winchester City v Eastleigh (7.45pm)

Friday 8

Dorchester Town v Exeter City (7.45pm)

Saturday, 9

Bromley v Gillingham (1pm)

Boreham Wood v Watford

Eastleigh v Reading XI (3pm)

Havant & Waterlooville v Brighton & Hove Albion (TBC)

Staines Town v Wycombe Wanderers (3pm)

Welling v Charlton Athletic

Monday 11

Cornard United v Braintree Town XI (7.45pm)

Havant & Waterlooville v Portsmouth

Salisbury City v Bristol Rovers

Tuesday 12

Bashley v Eastleigh (7.45pm)

Falmouth Town v Truro City (Aubrey Wilkes Trophy, 7.45pm)

Hamworthy United v Salisbury City (7.45pm)

Wednesday 13

Downton FC v Salisbury City CANCELLED  

Friday 15

Basingstoke Town v Crystal Palace (7pm)

Saturday 16

Alton Town v Salisbury City (3pm)

Kingstonian v Staines Town (at Corinthian Casuals) (2.30pm)

Margate v Welling

North Leigh v Eastleigh (3pm)

Thurrock v Ebbsfleet United (3pm)

Truro City v Yeovil Town (3pm)

Sunday 17

Staines Town v Leatherhead or Corinthian Casuals (at Corinthian Casuals)

Monday 18

Staines Town v Darlington (7.30pm)

Tuesday 19

Kingstonian v Sutton United (7.45pm)

Tiverton Town v Truro City (7.45pm)

Wednesday 20

Weymouth v Eastleigh (7.45pm)

Saturday 23

Erith & Belvedere v Bromley (3pm)

Frome Town v Eastleigh (3pm)

Havant & Waterlooville v Hendon

Thamesmead v Welling

Truro City v QPR (3pm)

Weston-super-Mare v Bath City

Woking v Charlton Athletic (3pm)

Monday, 25

Weston-super-Mare v Torquay United

Tuesday 26

AFC Totton v Salisbury City (7.45pm)

Bashley v Havant & Waterlooville

Sholing v Eastleigh (7.45pm)

Thurrock v Chelmsford City

Wednesday 27

Bromley v Charlton Athletic XI (7.45pm)

Plymouth Argyle v Truro City (7.45pm)

Sutton United v Barnet (7.45pm)

Welling v Gillingham

Saturday 30

Bromley v Chelsea XI (3pm) P-P NOW BEING PLAYED AUGUST 6

Dorchester Town v Weymouth (3pm)

Dulwich Hamlet v Thurrock (3pm)

Gosport Borough v Havant & Waterlooville

Oxford City v Eastleigh (2pm)

Salisbury City v Hayes & Yeading United (3pm)

Tooting v Sutton United CANCELLED

Truro City v Torquay United (3pm)

Uxbridge v Staines Town (3pm)

VCD v Welling

Weston-super-Mare v Cardiff City

AUGUST

Monday 1

Erith Town v Welling

Gosport Borough v Eastleigh (7.45pm)

Thurrock v Dagenham & Redbridge (7.45pm)

Tuesday 2

Bedfont Town v Staines Town (7.30pm)

Bromley v Crystal Palce (7.45pm)

Mark Jermyn XI v Portsmouth XI (at Dorchester Town FC)

Frome Town v Salisbury City (7.45pm)

Sutton United v West Ham United XI (7.45pm)

Thatcham Town v Basingstoke Town (7.45pm)

Weston-super-Mare v Bristol Rovers (7.45pm)

Wednesday 3

Eastleigh v Southampton XI (7.45pm)

Saturday 6

Bromley v Chelsea XI

Chatham v Welling

Harlow v Thurrock (3pm)

Hungerford Town v Basingstoke Town (3pm)

Lewes v Havant & Waterlooville

Salisbury City v Bath City (3pm)

Truro City v Hednesford Town (3pm, Southern League champions v Southern League Cup winners)

Worthing v Eastleigh (3pm)

Tuesday 9

Havant & Waterlooville v Southampton